Interview with Scott Vogel of Terror from the early in the Covid pandemic.

How’s life for you in the age of COVID? What’s been helpful in keeping you upbeat during the pandemic?
Trying my best to maintain. The world seems so off balance and troubled right now. It’s hard to stay positive and at peace, but it has been nice at the same time to not be in the mad scramble of constant tour and travel, and I have grounded myself and found some time to reflect and try to push myself forward.

When did the idea of the StickTight.LA page and the Garagecast come about? What was the vision behind that when it was conceptualized, and what’s the feedback from the community been like?
Terror has so much stuff we have done though the years, and this total pause was the perfect time to bring light to some of the things we had forgotten or tucked away while always rushing to the next move.  The garagecast is just a way for us to still be a unit, and hopefully stay connected with the people that count on us when times get hard and they need an escape. It’s all just very natural and fun for us to stay involved and keep the Terror spirit alive.

I would imagine a lot of kids are feeling the stress of this pandemic as it’s taken away a key component of the thing that we all love. What would you say to hardcore kids in 2020 that are struggling to adapt to life without shows and the community that goes along with it?
With so much technology at all of our finger tips now is the time to create. Do a zine, write some lyrics, or just dig and find new bands or old bands, and just keep your mind sharp and filled with things that make you happy. At the same time get out and jog or ride your bike, and stay up to date on current events and stay safe and informed.

To piggyback off that last question, what would you tell a kid that’s just now discovering hardcore during the pandemic? What would be your advice to them? What’s something you wish you’d known, or that you wish others around you had known when you first discovered punk and hardcore music?
I would say navigate your own path that you feel fits you and you feel inside. Don’t look for the path that others have taken or the path that seems like you are supposed to take. Hardcore means so many different things to so many people. And that’s great. Find your way that makes you feel alive and true to yourself.

I know with the rerelease of Keepers of the Faith you’ve been vocal on your Instagram and social media about how special that record was to make and release. Is it your favorite Terror album?
It’s a very important one for sure.  I don’t know, some days Lowest of the Low might be my favorite. Other days, One With the Underdogs. But when all is said and done KOTF was more than music. It’s was a mini movement within our scene that was real and pretty beautiful.

What was the catalyst for the new Buried Alive record? How’s it been resurrecting an old project, and are there any plans for Buried Alive to tour or do shows after live music is a reality again?
Reconnecting with people in the band I hadn’t talked to in many years was the true catalyst and will be the most important aspect to me—no  matter what does or does not happen. The future is wide open so who knows. Anything could happen, but at the same time I would not be surprised if you don’t get much more Buried Alive in any form.   

With all the political turmoil going on in the world today, what responsibility, in your opinion, do hardcore kids have to get out there and participate in social justice movements and the democratic process?
I don’t wanna push or pressure anyone to do anything. I do think you should sharpen your mind and become aware, and if you feel compelled become active to whatever capacity suits you. The world is ugly as hell right now and to ignore that would be kinda thoughtless and naïve, so I encourage all to seek truth and work for a fair and free world for all.

What current bands/records are you stoked about right now?
The new Westside Gunn is great, Buffalo Style!!!!  Da Cloth’s fixtape is really good. Looking forward to the next Hatebreed LP. Ways Away is really cool, but to be honest my ears are on podcast land most of the time.

What’s next for Terror post-COVID? What are the tour plans once y’all are able to get back out on the road again?
I’ve learned this year to not make plans—in my personal life and with the band. I am trying to stress less and let the pieces fall where they may and when the time is right Terror will be ready to strike.

What’s one thing worth ranting and/or being stoked about in hardcore today?
Seeing so many HC kids in July give their all to protest the death of George Floyd was inspiring for sure. Hardcore is so much more then moshing and hard breakdowns.

Funniest tour story?
When Frank 3 Guns wrote GG Allin on the bathroom wall of a hostile in Australia in his own beautiful poop. That was pretty good.

SV