Hampton Roads - Black death metal, mixed with a dash of progressive music and shaken together with a dab of surf can only describe scene newcomers Firing Squad Mishap.  Not just another metal band, but a show of their own making.  Covered with makeup, spikes and even leather sex masks, the band gives you an energetic performance with members moshing around.  Firing Squad Mishap might be new to the Hampton Roads metal scene, but their founder Rich Kugleman, aka Koog, is a veteran.  I was excited to sit down with Alex Sison (lead vocalist) and Koog (guitarist) before their show at Roger's Sports Bar to pick apart their minds and see what gets this show rolling.

After Paddy runs by with his shirt pulled up distracting the guys with his man nipples, we got down to business.

33: How did you come up with the name?
Koog: We had 57 band names, and the problem was trying to do Facebook.  We had to come up with a band name.  We narrowed it down to four band names, and we took a vote and came up with Firing Squad Mishap.  It is kinda eclectic and a little different.  I knew when I saw the name I had a whole genre of what we were going to do on stage surrounding the name.

33: I have to mention the stabbing incident after seeing it with my own eyes at Geared Up.
K: The stabbing incident.
Alex Sison: That is a funny story.
K: The funny part is that the singer for Firing Squad stabbed Koog’s old band's singer from Faceplate Ritual.

33: Yeah, was that a planned happening?  Maybe a little bit of rivalry.
AS: No, it was an accident.  At the end of our set, Cody came over to give me a hug, and then Jesse comes up to give me a hug, too, and I get one arm around him.  I go to put the other arm around him, and I felt resistance and thought, "Hey, I shouldn’t feel this resistance."  I was like, "Oh, shit dude, did I stab you?" and he opened up his shirt and said, “Man, I think you did.”  It was pretty deep, blood going everywhere.  He is a pretty heavyset dude and our friend, or else it could have turned out really bad.
K: Cody came back in his hospital gown all bandaged up.  It is funny that Cody, my old singer, gets shanked at our show. 
AS: I broke the blade off and gave it to him.  As you can imagine, I no longer wear that.  I just have a spiked fist now, no bladed gauntlet.
K: Yeah, everybody was worried we would be stabbing people at the shows.
AS: We got our street cred - that’s all we needed!

33: Yeah, you got a little bit of blood under your belt.  How many songs do you have under your belt?
K: We have seven and are playing six tonight.  We will be busting the new song out at our next show.  We are not trying to just do two chords and bang bang bang all night.  We really break 'em down 'til we are happy with them, and they are 100 percent solid.

33: Who does the writing?
K: Normally it is Paddy and I, the two guitar guys that break the riffs in, but we want everyone to have their stamp on it.

33: You guys were voted best makeup on the Local Pit Stop Awards on Facebook.  I know men, and best makeup is kinda funny.
AS: I think it was best dressed.
K: Just being nominated is cool since we are the new kids on the block as far as a band goes.  It just means we have drawn enough attention to have someone even nominate us.

33: What is your main inspiration musically?
AS: I would have to say Deftones and Devil Driver.
K: My inspirations are more Norwegian black metal.  I know a lot of those guys over there.  You listen to the Rapture - you will hear a Slayer-type riff followed by more of the black metal stuff, but it is funny, I practice classical guitar at the house.

33: Yeah, I was going to ask you about that, as in your last band you played bass.  So which is it - slap-a-da bass or grind on guitar?
K: I prefer the bass.  It is a lot more natural, and guitar I have to work at it.  I can flip back and forth, though.  They were adamant about me staying on guitar, which is cool, because if I had flipped over to bass, we wouldn’t have found Kasper, and he has put his work in.

33: Well it is a chemistry relationship when you get a new band member, kinda like getting a girlfriend, but it is a dude.  If you do not get along and work out, then it will never go anywhere.
K: It’s like a bond you have to have.

33: Yeah, that’s a better way to put it than comparing your bandmates to bitches.
K: I took a chance with Kasper and Alex being one of the founding, and taking these chances really paid off.  Alex is a front man that can command a show.  His first show ever was the NorVa.
AS: It was awesome.  I thought I would be afraid, but once I got on the stage, it was like my brain knew this is what I was supposed to be doing right now, and I was surprised at how un-nervous I was.
K: Alex is our samurai in training.  It is amazing because he is so comfortable.

33: Any upcoming events?
K: We have a few shows coming up April 7 Shaka's at the beach April 8 we are playing with Murder No Motive and Cast in Ruins at Geared Up - it is their debut show.  On April 9 we have a show here at Roger's with 180 Out.

 33: Do you see headlining your own shows?
K: When we open a show, we like to set the bar, and it is up to you to follow it.  It is kinda a little competition, but not in a bad way.  I mean, no one can follow a stabbing, but the local bands out here, I get along with everybody.  We go up there, and we play our music.  If it makes me happy, I am happy, and if it makes other people happy then that’s great.  If you don’t like my band, then great, no problem.

At the end of the night it was apparent these boys are new on the scene but not to talent and creativity.  Sweat and tears but no blood in sight at the end of the Firing Squad Mishap set, which I am sure was a pleasant ending for the boys who have now become famous for a metal show shanking. 

MySpace.com/FiringSquadMishap666

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By Photojournalist: Kerri Killion

Kerri Killion has lived in the Hampton Roads area for the majority of her life.  Her curiosity and creativity always had her viewing the world through different eyes.  She was immediately drawn to the artistic side of life.  An artist and writer, Kerri found herself interested in photography at a young age.  Soon viewing the world through her camera became second nature.  In 2007, she started Inner Vision Artistry as a way to show her photography to the world.

Her love for music including punk, metal, psychobilly, and hardcore naturally led her to an interest in band photography.  This journey has now led her to Magazine33.