Tainted are a 5 piece metal band from Christchurch and they have their highly-anticipated third album Into Temptation coming out on 1 May. Having had a listen to this incredible album, I can assure all Tainted and metal fans that it is well worth the wait since their latest release came out in 2008. Tainted have created what they say is their best work to date, and all those that have waited patiently for this album to be released will be treated to a new era of Tainted that will indeed deliver into a new realm. Tainted answered the following questions for muzic.net.nz:

Who are your role models in the NZ music industry? 

Slim: Evan Short (ex. Concord Dawn) for coming from a punk/metal background and taking that into the Drum and Bass sound.
Liam: Shihad, Concord Dawn and 8 Foot Sativa.

Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?

Linly: For me it would have to be Carved and Created, It’s the one I enjoy playing the most.
Slim:Torch the Ground because it sounds exactly like the audio representation of the rebirth of this band when we started writing this album.
Liam: Either Bleed For Me or Nothing Lasts Forever. They both represent, to me, the best of Tainted when we really click during collaboration. 
Morgan: I think the song I personally feel the most connected musically & lyrically with isBring the Apocalypse. The song had been partly written almost 2 years prior to recording & just came from jam with Tim one day. Lyrically it resonates with me.

Do you have any plans for future collaborations with other musicians? Who would they be?

Liam: Nothing right now, but I'm extremely open to colabs with pretty much anyone. 
Slim: Not any as far as i'm aware, but personally? I would love to work with some of NZ's hip hop and Electronic artists like P-Money, Evan Short or Fire and Ice, although I'm fairly sure what we do wouldn't really be something they'd be too keen on working with, but you never know, I'm just curious to see what could come out of it.

Where is your favourite place to relax in NZ?

Linly: Home!
Slim: Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes.
Liam: out my parents place in Whitecliffs.
Morgan: Takaka, in Golden Bay where I grew up is always a great getaway.

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

Liam: Such a long list! Ignite the Helix down in Dunners and State of Malice. Both those bands dominate and deserve so much.
Slim: Cobra Khan, cause they broke up after doing some amazing things to the hardcore sound across their releases.
Linly: Just One Fix! They are awesome musicians and write some killer songs! 

What is the one thing you want NZ to know about Tainted?

Liam: The wait for the new album was worth it. Things are about to get real.
Slim: How hideously broke we are but have still managed to get this album out despite that.

How would you describe Tainted’s music in one sentence?

Liam: High energy music designed to get you on your feet into the mosh pit.
Morgan: We write music that feels good for us and not for just other musicians to listen to.
Slim: Metal, not black metal, not death metal or any other fenced off "sub-genre," just metal, unattached and looking for opportunities.

What has been your most memorable show to date?

Liam: Playing CBS arena with Metallica. Hands down
Slim: Last show of our 2012 Forever Entrenched Tour at the Dux Live in Christchurch, a packed house of absolutely dedicated writhing heaving fans after 2 tough years.
Morgan: Sepultura was great for me. It was the most relaxed I’ve ever felt before/during/after a show. Plus it was amazing being complimented afterwards by a band I’ve listened to since I was 13.

What local albums have you been enjoying recently?

Liam: Jakob's latest album Sines. Kora's self titled is a regular in my playlist too.
Morgan: Awakened Inferno’s Fire In The Hole and Lebowski’s Round One. Love those dudes.

What is Tainted’s long term goal?

Slim: World domination. Or at least earning enough to pay some bills.
Liam: To keep growing and bringing good times to stages far and wide.
Linly: To tour more overseas and put out  more albums.

What sets you apart from other bands?

Liam: We try and be extremely professional to work with and take our live performance to the highest level. Our music is meant to be experienced live so we make sure we own that stage.
Linly: Our live show.
Slim: Live performance, 100% every time, no matter how many or how few people turn up at the show.

Where do you get your inspiration to create music from?

Slim: A need to create, express and release ideas.
Liam: I'm very vibe and atmosphere based. I will get a certain feeling and try and recreate that feeling musically to create tunes with a certain feel.
Morgan: No one place. I listen to a lot of different styles of music. I also go to as many local shows as I can but it’s obviously not something you can force. Unfortunately I wake up in the wee hours with a good idea and if I don’t record a voice memo on my phone it’s gone forever.

What can we expect to see from Tainted over the next year?

Liam: A punishing album release cycle and hopefully some overseas tours.
Slim: The new release Into Temptation and some long desired, brutal shows 

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Liam: Always be professional, don't get a big head and always go hard. You'll play small crowds but always perform as if it’s a massive audience. You wouldn’t be happy if Maccas charged you for a big mac and gave you a cheese burger due to low sales so don't do that to your fans.
Slim: Work hard, and if you think you're working hard, work harder, cause you may not be working hard enough. Never ever think you've "made it" cause any progress made disappears in a snap.
Linly: Work hard and don't let anyone tell you that you cant do something!

Tell us about Tainted’s next release.

Liam: This is easily Tainted's most ambitious album to date. I feel this album really puts a stamp down on a sound that we can call our own.

What can you never leave home without?

Liam: Pant's.
Slim: On tour? Clean underwear and socks sunglasses and probably a wireless microphone.
Morgan: Pants. Unfortunately it’s a legal requirement.

What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?

Slim: Jumping off stage at The Big Day Out to get with the crowd, then being too short to get back on stage and needing the legend security boys to boost me back up, but honestly not that embarrassing, just awesome getting even security in on the show.
Liam: The smoke machine at a venue breaking and making us completely blind and scaring away the crowd.
Linly: Oh man... too many to list, it's all fun though!

What inspired you to start Tainted?

Tim: A love of writing music, the fact that there’s people out there that like it is simply nothing other than awesome.

What rumour would you like to start about Tainted?

Liam: Despite common misconceptions Mo is actually the oldest member of the band.
Tim: Yes, Yes Liam, this is true, Mo’s the oldest!!!

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