A18 are at a critical juncture in their career. In fact, the band’s entire existence is in limbo, which must feel very strange being that they’re releasing their third album (and second for Victory), the unrelenting hardcore opus ‘Dear Furious’ June 8th and recently secured their line-up with the addition of their new bassist Matt. Guitarist Mike Hartsfield explained what’s going on with A18 shortly prior to the record’s release. As their Website says, the band is in search of a new vocalist, as co-founder Isaac Golub is in the process of leaving the band he helped originate in 1998.

Mike confided that Isaac will stay on for the looming West Coast tour focusing on northern California and the Northwest from June 13th to the 24th. In the meantime, the guys are trying out two potential vocalists to take over for the retiring frontman (“It’s not like we got guys beating down our doors,” he jokes), and there is no doubt that by the sound of his voice or his actual words, that Mike is excited about the upcoming changes – not that he would want Isaac to leave. Obviously this is a tough situation, but still Mike says he’s “feeling excited and confident, but,” he adds, “at the same time if something doesn’t work out, we’re not gonna drag it out.” That’s right, if no one seems capable of handling vocal duties, A18 will be no more, which, of course, is an unpleasant prospect for not only the band members, but also fans of old-school style hardcore. But if they cannot perform at their highest level, it is true, why should they stay around? If your best cannot be produced, bands should “give it up,” to use Mike’s phrase.  They will, however, soldier on and try all options.

The reason they’re trudging on is simply because of ‘Dear Furious’, a record with which Mike is understandably very pleased. Personally, Mike feels he exceeded anything he thought he could’ve done, as well as the band as a whole. “I think each of us collectively did the best we could and the best we’ve [ever] done. With the effort that Tom [who played drums AND bass, as they had not a bassist they felt capable of playing on the album at the time, and only added Matt to the line-up after recording was finished] and I put in and with the product we got out of it, I think we’re so excited about the record, that I think to not support it or to not even try to would be kind of self-defeating for the record,” accurately reasoning, “It would just fall by the wayside.” In continuing with this theme, he declares, “If we hadn’t recorded this record, Isaac leaving I think would’ve definitely been the end of the band, and I wouldn’t have even thought of continuing. But Tom who’s been in the band coming up on two years now, he’s worked really hard on the last tours and being in the studio and writing the new record.”

Asking if Isaac is done with being in bands for good, Mike replies with a rather confident yes that he does think his friend is through, only later adding “I’m pretty sure he’s done for at least the current time being as far as being in a band or doing any recording or anything,” and then elaborating on his choice to keep the band going, re-enforcing the importance of ‘Dear Furious’: “If we hadn’t been to this point with the new record, I’m sure I would be too. We’ve toured and we’ve had fun and we’ve put out records and we had a great time. It’s just the excitement we have about the new record is keeping me and Tom going, and keeping our new bass player really excited.” Always remaining upbeat, the guitarist says he’s “curious to see what’s gonna happen” with the band. “Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s gonna be interesting to see different people in the vocalist position singing the songs.”

And the way Isaac is leaving the band is interesting and nice to see. He’s actually going to help out prospective vocalists so the transition will be a bit easier.  Taking part in the process, there’s definitely no hard feelings here, folks. Mike even reveals that Issac is eager to see who the new vocalist will be. Helping out, Mike feels, is “the best way anyone can leave a band” rather than just walking away as so many others do. If the band finds a fitting singer, there’s no question they’ll be touring the entire U.S. to promote ‘Dear Furious’. August is the month Mike mentions if all goes well, but obviously, as things are still uncertain, he doesn’t want to commit to anything. Just know that there is a possibility! Their live show sounds entertaining. Having heard tales of bloodshed and carnage, I had to know about their performances. Mike laughingly corroborates the reports: “There’s bloodshed from time to time. We give it our all… There’s not a script or any kind of fashion statement we’re trying to make. It’s what it is,” he nonchalantly adds, “and it’s raw… It comes from our heart and our gut and we just kinda seem to spill it onstage!” Nice.

And this “real” aspect of their live show complements their music perfectly, which quite simply is a no-frills hardcore affair. No trends, no so-called fashion statements as he hinted upon before, no bullshit. No tinges of metal, just brutal instrumentation and tough, forceful vocals, not to mention the prerequisite frenetic breakdowns interspersed throughout the compositions. And on this album, which Mike feels is extremely “consistent,” he attests, “Musically, I just wanted everything to be as intense as possible,” and that he wanted “to structure the songs a little better [than on previous releases] and have some more interesting parts,” noting the aforementioned out-of-control, “heavier” breakdowns. Also he believes Isaac did better than ever in the lyrical department.

And this record that he’s so happy with, was the result of some pressure. The band had just released the preceding record, ‘Foreverafternothing’ in 2003 and had been touring a great deal. Mike says the guys knew they had to be finished writing and recording in the winter in order to have the album released in the spring/summer of 2004 timeframe. He reveals that this marked the first time they actually set deadlines for themselves to have everything done. In the past, he elaborates, “we’ve always just written as it came along and not so much like, ‘Oh, we need to write a record,’ and really sat down and wrote a record. I think it’s the most focused we’ve [ever] been. So yeah,” he concludes positively, “we felt a little pressure, but I think it was good ‘cause it pushed us forward; it wasn’t too much to bear.” Basically, the entire process was a worthwhile experience for the guys.

Also gratifying to Mike is just being in the band itself. When I ask what he would like people to know about A18, he mentions the obvious – that they’re a straight edge band and have been from the beginning and that they love what they do. But going into greater detail, his sheer passion for hardcore and his dedication to the band are even more evident. “I’m the oldest member in the band and getting this old and still playing this music, it’s rewarding and fun to play, but it’s obviously not the smartest career move and maybe Isaac’s got the right idea,” he quips. “We tour and we travel around and we goof off and we have fun at it and that’s probably the most rewarding thing.”