Generation Underground is a hard rock band from Central New Jersey. They are winners of Academia’s Best Rock Song of February 2020 for their song “Y.” They’ve shared the stage with bands and artists such as Attila, Chelsea Grin, Escape The Fate, Lorna Shore, Slaughter To Prevail, Cattle Decapitation, Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria, Carnifex, The Word Alive, Nonpoint, and Drowning Pool.

We had a chance to catch up with them as part of our Refrain Interview series.

Refrain Music Blog: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. You have a new single out now. Tell us about it? What’s it called? 
 
The single pass the needle is about, watching people around me change who they were over night by becoming submerged by drugs & alcohol. The song talks about me personally trying to get rid of those people & the toxic relationships and the things attached to them.

RMB: What’s the story on how it was recorded?

We do all of our recording in my studio I have in my garage. We’ve tracked both albums that we have in our catalog there. This song was one of the last songs tracked / written for this album. We started writing the song in January of 2019 & finished it by February 2019. Like majority of our songs it’s usually an enjoyable process between me & Chris Pennie yelling nonsense at each other & trying to one up each other’s Rob Zombie impersonation. 

RMB: Is it part of a larger album?  

Technically kold blooded vol 1 & 2 are one album. We broke it up because people have short attention spans, & we thought it people would be able to digest the songs easier. Was a great idea until Covid messed that up. In early next year we’re going to be releasing everything as one whole album with some additional bonus content. 

RMB: When is that album out?

November 26th is the date. The album was supposed to be out on Black Friday 2019 but that got blocked by our old manger & booking agent. Should have never let anyone dictate when this should have been released, obviously it’s different if we’re on a label or have a distribution deal on the table but that wasn’t the case. 

RMB: How many songs on the album?

There a 5 songs on this half of the album. We wanted to make sure that we didn’t front load the album & gave people a reason to listen to both eps. 

RMB: Tell us about your previous work and how this differs.

So prior to this album we put out a self titled album in August 2018. They always tell you have your whole life to write your first album & they are right. Some of those songs existed as early as 2016. Slaves To The System, Nightmare Never Ending & House Of Hell have literally 2 different versions prior to what you hear on our first album. & songs like Y & Greedy Bitch had 1 version each before they were on this album. 

RMB: Tell us a little about the band. Who are the members and what do you each play?

We’ve been a band since 2014. Mike Florentine – vocals, guitar, lyrics. Matt Schussler – drums & bass. Kyle Conlin – guitar & backing vocals. 

RMB: How long have you been together? When and how did you form? 

We’re from Central New Jersey. Matt joined in 2016 & was in the band until 2019 & then rejoined in 2020. Kyle joined in July of this year. 

RMB: Have you had any significant lineup changes recently? What happened and how is everyone feeling about it?

I think the only band that has had more lineup changes than us is Nine Inch Nails at this point lol. I’ve lost track, but when people don’t show up & don’t know the songs why should they still be in the band. You don’t get kept on at your job if you suck & this band is no different. Currently everyone is a little on edge, you knows there’s a lot of things happening & changing behind the scenes so it becomes taxing after a while. Will get through it at the end of the day. 

RMB: What’s the one thing you are most proud of in your career so far?

I would say the proudest thing I would say this band has accomplished so far was being apart of the Summer Slaughter Tour in 2019 for 4 dates. Couldn’t of had a better time & had our best show of our career on the Rhode Island date of the tour. 

RMB: If you had to pitch your music to a potential fan in less than 10 seconds, what would you say?

Our music appeals to a very wide range of people. There’s a little bit of everything in our music. We’re not trying to be boxed into a corner that why we get labeled with so many different sub genres. 

RMB: What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten that you think everyone needs to hear or that has meant the most to you?

I would say the biggest advice we’ve gotten that’s helped push our career in the right direction is this. This came from my uncle, he said the minute you stop caring what people say about you, you can’t loose. I spend the first 6 years of my career getting frustrated with nasty comments, death threats & the whole nine yards. It’s not worth getting upset by it at the end of the day. You know the artist / bands that I don’t like I don’t go & dislike there videos & talk shit about them so why come do it to us. People think we like the controversy, it’s not that at all I’m just not going sugar coat it if people don’t wanna hear the truth. 

RMB: If you could go back in time, what’s a piece of advice you would give to a younger you?

Umm to calm down & stop putting deadlines on everything. I lived with that attitude for the first 5 years of my career that ended me up almost dead & literally in rehab. Things will fall into place, some things will happen naturally & some won’t but things eventually workout in the end if you stick with it. 

RMB: What’s coming up next for your musical project?

We’re currently 7 songs done on our next album that we’re aiming to have finished by the end of the year. If you think this album is pissed off you have no idea what your in store for next year. I don’t want to say what most bands say that “omg it’s our best album.” That’s up to the fans to decide but if you like the first 2 albums you’ll love this one. It’s a combination of both albums while experimenting at the same time, we’re not going to pull a Linkin Park don’t worry we’re going to stay true to our sound. 

RMB: Anything we haven’t thought of that you want to talk about? Now is the time!

I think we covered everything! Album on November 26th, next single November 5th. Catch us on PA Live TV that day.