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Shotpointblank.
 Shotpointblank
are one of the most long-established bands in the local hardcore
scene, forming alongside Day Of Contempt, Embodiment 12:14,
Force Fed Nine and I Killed The Prom Queen. The 12 months have
involved a lot of hard work, a lineup restructure and constant
touring but, with their debut album 'Heart Of A Disbeliever'
on the verge of release and prospects of touring America towards
the end of the year, they are arguably at their strongest point.
"We've had a really good year so far and things just seem to be going our way," frontman Brett Eitzen enthuses. "I think the album has a had a big part to do with that. Having a full-length [release] out seems to add an air excitement around the band, a few people start turning their heads our way, the shows are starting to come in and it's snowballing from there."
Having the album released in the US had a lot to do with the release of their debut EP 'Kill Breath Kill,' released through Trial & Error. "We have another release which has just come out in America. It's three demo tracks we did for the album, on a split with a band called Problem Solver Revolver who are on our label in America, Surprise Attack records. That came out a month ago and is doing quite well. It's got one track from the album and two previously unreleased tracks."
Eitzen also happy to explain the meaning behind the album's title. "The title comes from the line 'the only truth lies in the heart of a disbeliever.' What that song is actually about is the mass media and the way it's basically built around bias. We mention how Hollywood movies have always had America as the good guy and the Middle East or the Russians as the bad guys which is a very black and white way to look at the world... That song's about keeping your mind open as to what you read in the media and being aware it may not be the cold hard truth."
Shotpointblank thrive on being individuals, free to think and express their own thoughts and beliefs. "That's one thing this band has been big on, just about being yourself and the person want to be. The same goes with popular culture: they do promote a way of appearing as far body image. 'To be beautiful you must to look like this' which is definitely not the case. There isn't beauty in just one shape and form especially when there's so many different people in the world from different cultures, so many different body types that it's such a narrow minded view to hold," Eitzen declares. "And everyone has different tastes as well. Especially in the Renaissance era, a particular type of body was believed to be beautiful and a couple of hundred years later we see something different. So it doesn't mean it's necessarily beautiful, it's just what is perceived as beauty in this time and age. We have been very outspoken on a number of different issues. We're not a political band, we're not politicians, but as far as aspects of the self and being our own people who want to live our own lives that's definitely an idea we want to promote."
Although some members uphold straight edge beliefs, the band has never claimed one collective set of ideals. Instead it has brought a different collection of individuals working together to achieve a common goal. "We've never been a straight edge band, or a vegan band, or a vegetarian band. We do have members who uphold some of these beliefs but all in all we're just a hardcore band: nothing more, nothing less. That's what I like about this band; this band is for anyone who likes the punk scene or the hardcore scene and who is proud to be a part of that and has respect for themselves and all the people around them. It allows us to find common ground between us and the beliefs we all hold together strongly and focus on those rather than the differences we do have. It's an important quality because there's always going to be people different to you, so if you can work together with them for a common cause it shows anything can be achieved."
Adrian Lee
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Shotpointblank launch 'Heart Of A Disbeliever' at Jive on Sat 26 June.
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The latest issue
available now!
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