8 Foot Sativa

In the current climate of manufactured music, pop idols and watered down rock, a band like 8 Foot Sativa theoretically should not exist. If the prefabricated product is what people want to hear, then there would be no place for a real band playing real music, right?

Wrong, very wrong.

8 Foot Sativa play uncompromising, brutal heavy metal, and have just blasted themselves into the upper reaches of the New Zealand album charts. What’s more they are a New Zealand band, without a major record label deal.

Brent Fox, self-described bass monster for this incendiary band seems a little amazed by the success of the band’s new album, but at the same time extremely excited. And who wouldn’t be. The band’s 2002 debut, ‘Hate Made Me’, sold around 5000 copies in just over a year. Within a week of release, ‘Season For Assault’ sold 3000 copies and climbing, putting it at number 6 in the New Zealand album charts. “Things are fucking excellent. No complaints here at all,” said Fox. “We didn’t expect (the album) to do so well. We sold over 5000 copies of ‘Hate Made Me’. ‘Season For Assault’ will blow it away.” Fox’s excitement also causes him to say “fuck” a lot.

There is no such thing as an overnight sensation, and 8 Foot Sativa exploding into the local musical conscience is no exception. The band formed in West Auckland in 1998, and have been developing their art ever since. For Fox, it has meant total dedication to the band since then. “I think we’re successful because we only live for the band. We’ve sacrificed everything. We are where we are because people in the street want to hear us and want to help us out.”

When the band was unable to pay back $500 they owed on equipment to a music shop, Fox worked at the shop until the debt was paid off. The band has made five videos so far, for a cost of $7000. While that expense would make a reasonably big dent in most bands’ pockets, without help from various sources it would normally cost around $25,000. “The ‘8 Foot Sativa’ video (of the song of that name) cost us $700, the cost of developing the film”, said Fox.

Being at the forefront of the New Zealand metal scene, 8 Foot Sativa have played with a lot of local bands. Fox has been impressed by what he has seen and heard. “Metal is growing, and it’s just about to explode. The quality of bands in New Zealand is getting better, and most could stand up next to most international acts.” He said the quality of the Kiwi bands was higher than those from Australia, but the Aussies know better how to sell themselves as far as bios and presentation go.

The band has played with some big names in the metal world, both here and overseas. Early in 2003, they supported American nu-metallers Disturbed on their New Zealand tour. They have also supported Pantera, and Soulfly while in the UK. Fox said the band had enjoyed touring with Disturbed, as they got to know the American band, whereas when they supported Pantera it was difficult to talk to them because the show was a one off.

The band toured Australia in 2003. They were pulling several hundred Australian metalheads a night, even without much promotion from their record label in Australia. “We’ve sold 1500 copies of “Hate Made Me” in Australia, but the label is wanting to really push the new album,” said Fox.

While in Sydney opening for a Japanese band, the 8 Foot Sativa boys met up with one of their idols, legendary drummer Gene Hoglan, currently with Strapping Young Lad. One of Hoglan’s former bands, Death, has been a big influence on 8 Foot Sativa’s sound. “We were pretty happy to meet him. He has this air of ‘good cunt’ about him. We gave him our new record,” said Fox.

And what a record it is. The material on ‘Season For Assault’ is faster and more polished than ‘Hate Made Me’, leaning in a more death metal direction than the hardcore punk influences of the debut. The production is also a lot cleaner. Fox said drummer Sam Sheppard had added a new element the band, both as a songwriter and musician. “Sam is addicted to metal, and Gary (Smith, guitar) is a perfectionist”. Vocalist Justin Niessen, who contributes lyrics on a number of tracks, rounds off the writing team.

The band take their musical cues from the expected quarters, like The Haunted, and Death, and Slayer (“Lots of Slayer!” said Fox) but also listen to a fair bit of Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and Corporation 187. The stunningly clear and heavy sound of the new album owes a debt to Slipknot. Slipknot? “We took ‘Iowa’ into the studio with us, because it’s a heavy record. It had the quality we wanted, and the sound engineer aced it,” said Fox.

With the slightly new direction, and improvement as a live act, Fox said the band now dislikes some of the older songs from ‘Hate Made Me’, but the fans seem to want it all. “Like ‘Cock Tease’. In Australia, people were calling for it. For us it’s like ‘what are you thinking?’ It’s almost an insult to us,” laughed Fox. “Engine” is another the band is not keen on, but it still goes down well with fans.

8 Foot Sativa seem to be living the metal dream, playing with big name bands, touring overseas and domestically, and have an album in the top ten, so surely they must be doing well financially? “We’ve sold 5000 copies of our first album, making about $180,000. The band has seen $6000. The record company, distributors, and shops all take a cut, and a very small amount goes on manufacturing (the album). Everyone makes money except the band. Fucking leeches!”