Biohazard feeds appetite of destruction
Brooklyn metal extremists play at the Whisky on Thanksgiving
By John Sabatini
Tomorrow night, once the turkey and pumpkin pie have had a
chance to settle, the Brooklyn-based metal band Biohazard will
celebrate the holiday by bringing its unique rap-influenced sound
to an extended family of friends and fans at the Whisky in
Hollywood.
Combining elements of extreme metal, hardcore rap and hip-hop,
Biohazard thrives on creating music which defies categorization. In
addition to dominating MTV’s "Headbanger’s Ball," the band has
collaborated with such prominent rappers as Onyx and Sen Dog from
Cypress Hill.
"I don’t like to place Biohazard in typical categories like
metal or hardcore or rap or punk," argues lead guitarist Bobby
Hambel.
"Yeah, it’s heavy and yes, it’s aggressive," he says. "We’ve
just got a natural feel for a lot of funk and hip-hop rhythms, and
we’re not afraid to incorporate them into our music. We’re not
afraid to incorporate anything into our music."
Noting a common focus on significant political and social
issues, Hambel suggests that the most appropriate classification
might be in the tradition of 1960s style folk music.
"A lot of the folk artists back in the ’60s were screaming for
change and trying to sing about what was going on in the world
around them, which is no different from what we’re doing," Hambel
says. "We just do it with our style and delivery."
Hambel explains that even the band’s name is part of its
commitment to social commentary. The term "Biohazard" is meant not
to refer to the band members themselves, but to the dangers in life
which the band sings about: corruption, crime, racism, drug abuse
and AIDS.
"(Biohazard) is any obstacle that’s in your way in life," Hambel
says. "Biohazard is everything that’s out there. It’s all negative,
but you have to rise above. You have to not let it ruin you or your
spirit."
Having grown up in tough Brooklyn ghettos on the underside of
New York City, Hambel and the rest of Biohazard speak about these
issues from personal experience.
"We’ve seen a lot of people growing up who have let their
surroundings ruin their lives, dropping them into jail," Hambel
says. "If I didn’t start this band and get something of a life
together, I think I would have self-destructed like a lot of my
friends did."
From within a crumbling urban setting, Biohazard sees an
automated society of powerful political/financial overlords and
expendable pawns who are intentionally kept in a state of fear and
ignorance.
The band members argue that it is time for people to become
aware of what is really occurring in this country and the world in
order to make positive change. Hambel is particularly wary of
movements toward censorship, and he strongly resents the parental
advisory labels on Biohazard’s music.
"Biohazard lyrics are very positive," he says. "Why would you
want to put a sticker on it? If I had a kid, I would want him to
read Biohazard lyrics because it’s no bullshit and it’s about real
life."
Biohazard is especially outraged by a related issue in
Pennsylvania. A new law there makes the sale of music with a
parental advisory warning to a minor punishable by time in jail or
a possible $2,000 fine. Hambel says he is truly frightened by such
an oppressive and misplaced measure.
"The kids are the ones who buy the music," he says. "The kids
are the ones who need to hear the music, it’s all they have in
life. When I was a teen-ager, the only thing I had was my
music.
"All the violence and exploitation of women that goes on in
Hollywood, and then a band singing about the world and about really
important things says the word ‘fuck,’ and you can’t have it? I
think it’s fascist. And it’s scary because what’s next?"
Despite the intense emotions that these subjects generate, the
members of Biohazard take great pride in being able to introduce
hope and the possibility of change and to express anger without
being violent.
"Biohazard is very yin-yang," Hambel says. "At our most brutal,
loudest, aggressive and violent point, we’re at our most peaceful.
The aggression is release, and we try to find hope in everything we
sing about, instead of just exploiting negative issues.
"I think music is a very powerful tool, and more musicians
should try to use the power that they have with the microphone and
all the millions (of fans) to say something positive."
CONCERT: Biohazard at the Whisky on Thursday, Nov. 24. Doors
open at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $12. For more info call (310)
652-4202.