Metal Mayhem: Tell us about the circumstances that gotten I-DEF-I this far along the way. Which factors do you feel to be most important in progressing to the level of international attention so swiftly?
I-DEF-I: Well since day one we've been determined to take the band as far as we possibly can, the first thing I think when I wake up is literally "What do I need to do to for the band today", and it's a mentality we all share. But while we've certainly worked hard, locking ourselves away for months at time writing and rehearsing, and then pounding our way round the UK as an unknown band, giving up virtually everything else in our lives to pursue the dream, we've also had some amazing luck. As an unsigned band we landed tours with Killing Joke and Fear Factory, as well as playing a one off show with Stone Sour, which certainly isn't the way it normally goes! There are a lot of factors that have been important to us getting to this stage, we've learnt a lot of lessons the hard way as we've come along, we've honed our live performance and we're constantly striving to be better musicians, better songwriters, we're as DIY as it's possible to be and we're more than happy with that. And now we're ready to take on the world.

MM: What are some of those lessons that you feel you have learned along the way?
I-DEF-I: We've learnt a lot about ourselves along the way, when you're in a situation where you're living a daily struggle to live your dream you really find out just how far and how hard you can push yourself.

MM: Do you consciously take into consideration the overall vibe the group gives off or are is I-DEF-I a group that is purely spontaneous? I-DEF-I: No, we've never tried to contrive anything about I-DEF-I, it's just who we are, our personalities are always going to show in our music as well as our live shows. MM: Do you prefer the concert stage to the studio environment? I-DEF-I: I love them both! Being in the studio is great, I've always enjoyed the whole recording process, and I'll pretty much be there for every part that's going down, and to be honest I can't wait to get into the studio to record our first full length album, I'm so excited about the new tunes! Playing live is what it's really all about though, you just can't beat the intensity, the release that comes with a live show, the energy coming back at you from the crowd is unbeatable. MM: Recently, Kerrang! Labeled your new album Bloodlust Casualty as "Monstrously well-hung". Do you believe that this is in fact a true statement? I-DEF-I: Haha yeah, it's got massive balls too!

MM: Why?
I-DEF-I: We took everything we've been though, all the personal lows, all the dark times, all the anger, all the frustration and channeled it straight into "Bloodlust", monstrously well-hung might may be a bold statement, but it feels kinda fitting.

MM: In addition, the new EP was greatly praised in the K! review, garnering an illustrious 4K rating. How do you feel about such accolades being placed upon your work?
I-DEF-I: Obviously it's great to have the biggest metal magazine in the world saying great things about us, and on a personal level it's really cool. We're happy that people understand what we're doing and appreciate it, but it certainly doesn't mean we're going to be content to sit back and relax or let up pushing ourselves.

MM: Do you have a tendency to get mashed a bit after shows or do you feel too paggered for partying? If so, is it arduous to contend with a touch of the morning after the night before following a concert?
I-DEF-I: Well I normally don't get the chance, I'm pretty much always driving the van! We always have a good time at shows though, it's great to get out, play some metal, meet up with some old friends, a whole load of new (and sometimes crazy) people and end up in a whole load of random situations. When we get the chance to party properly it does tend to get pretty messy pretty quickly...mornings on the road are never pretty either way, nothing like waking up in the van with a bass amp sticking in your back, someone's foot in your mouth and a thin coat of ice on your sleeping bag!

MM: Your first run of "Bloodlust Casualty" sold out on the day of release. What is the difference between yours and every other bloody band in the UK? Why are the fans so excited about the music of I-Def-I?
I-DEF-I: I think there are a few reasons; partly the UK scene has, with a few notable exceptions, been pretty much stagnant for the last 5 or so years, with bands seeming happy to jump on the next generic bandwagon and pound out the same tunes in the same style. As a result most of the UK has been looking to the US for good music, you guys have been dominating us! There are some great bands coming up over here now though, I think the UK's finally ready to make a long overdue resurgence.

MM: Do you feel biased in answering that at all? I-DEF-I: In some ways, of course! I love my band and I believe in my music, and ultimately we're writing the music we want to hear and play, so I'm excited as much as anyone! But on the other hand as a fan of heavy music I've been crying out for some great new heavy bands that aren't just churning out the same whiney vocals, the same E/C chord progression and the same sped up Maiden riff over the top. MM: What other UK bands do you see as rising up right now that you're comfortable considering as your peers? I-DEF-I: The whole peer thing is a bit of an odd concept. Not being part of any kind of scene means we really are out on our own, but there a number of bands that are in the same kind of position over here right now and are starting to get the recognition they deserve. Metal music in the UK never really went away, true there's been the shitstorm of fashion led whatever-core bands that have been getting all the attention but there are some great bands that have just ignored that whole scene and just carried on slugging it out underground.

MM: You're in the process of writing a new full-length record. What type of progression can fans expect from the new material?
I-DEF-I: We're still mostly on working titles, but we're not too far off having all the material nailed now, it's sounding immense! We're covering a lot more ground with the new tunes, and our own sound has taken another evolutionary step, I really can't wait to get recording these tracks and take them out on the road, they're gonna scare the hell out of everyone.

MM: The EP is already gathering attention worldwide. Are more of the shows packed out than in the past? Can fans expect that the band will be undertaking major touring upon completion of the proper record?
I-DEF-I: We're planning a full tour of the UK over the summer, including a slot on the Download Festival, and then we'll be hitting up Europe later in the year, really looking forward to getting properly back out on the road, but it's great to have some time to concentrate on writing right now as well. Every show we've played this year has been totally rammed, which is awesome. We've done a lot of the hard work over the years playing tiny venues in weird towns to 3 people and a dog, but over the last year it's been building and building, and this year it's just exploding.

MM: Do you feel that the attitude of the band members has been primarily responsible for the measure of success you have enjoyed thus far?
I-DEF-I: Absolutely, all of us have given up virtually everything else in our lives to commit to the band 100%, we've been though some of the darkest times over the couple of years both on a personal level and as a band, and our determination and inexorable commitment has been a big part of pulling us through where a lot of bands would have given up and died. But it's not just that, we've got some great people working with us, and a lot of support from friends and fans alike, and we couldn't have got through the last year without them.

http://www.myspace.com/idefi
http://www.i-def-i.com
Erin Fox