Thy Art Is Murder Holy War Interview (C J on leaving Thy Art Is Murder) 11/08/2015

Thy Art Is Murder interview with C J McMahon 11/08/2015 at Sound Control, Manchester
CJ Mcmahon talks about the latest album and leaving Thy Art Is Murder (12:23 onwards)
Who are Thy Art Is Murder? 0:15
Have you had any backlash from religious groups misinterpreting the songs as a direct attack towards them? 03:50
Did you think at the time that the cover to Holy war would cause so much controversy? 08:28
Do you consider yourselves to be successful, are you able to make a living off your music? 12:23
Thy Art Is Murder have barely been off the stage since the start, how's that been? 15:10
Is it difficult, as a band from Australia, to put on domestic tours? 16:56
Do you have any advice for other bands trying to break out from Australia? 19:09
Holy War is considered to be your best vocal performance, is there anything that you do to maintain your vocals? 22:12
What's your biggest goal in Thy Art Is Murder? 25:53

[@dylanvalorfall]

This guy is one of the realest dudes.

[@antichrist7458]

He is so real and says it like it is. What a cool guy.

[@zuesunleashed]

I think it took some great courage to step down from a band he was clearly passionate about in the face of an industry that's incredibly exploitative and corrupt. Great guy, shame we won't be catching him on stage any longer.

[@lpfan6493]

I agree. I met him at mayhem fest this past summer, he's a great guy, funny, charismatic, and fun to be around. I only saw them once, I'm sad to not be able to see him again.

[@MikeJunior94]

+Mmmchutney who will be taking his place? Going to a show in february...

[@cbatmedia6214]

+BecomingMike for the tour ahead Thy Art Is Murder are looking to have Nick Arthur from Molotov Solution on vocals

[@DrumsAndMetal]

+Mmmchutney Ehh he'll be around. Was on stage with Boris the Blade not long ago. Check em out they're sick.

[@chrisjr1247]

he's back

[@idk-zy9ig]

Let's all buy this album

[@MrHellrider2000]

+Potato Lord Hail satan!

[@Cristov123]

+Potato Lord bought it on release! I've bought all their albums, love TAIM they are in my top 3 fav's of all time

[@jacobmurphy7595]

+Potato Lord got the cd, and vinyl. album's so damn good i got two fuckin copies

[@jacobmurphy7595]

+Potato Lord got the cd, and vinyl. album's so damn good i got two fuckin copies

[@jimmygangapersad3992]

I did buy all the nerch from them

[@CoffinDragger239]

This is the best interview with CJ that I've ever watched! Great questions!

[@cbatmedia6214]

Thanks, glad you like it. C J was so candid in the interview, couldn't have asked for more. Much appreciated

[@devineverts7021]

+CoffinDragger239 i agree man

[@stu6665]

I'm so fucking happy he's back now. Thy Art will always have a place in my heart and meeting these guys will always. Inspired me so much in the music I write and the opinions I hold. When CJ waves out of the window I was stood there waiting to go in. Was an amazing show with Ingested and Make Them Suffer it was worth my glasses getting kicked off my face and getting broken by a crowd surfer. I hope they continue to do what they do best

[@27milesunderwater]

What he said about America is so fucking accurate

[@charlesyarbrough3066]

Damn! The intelligence from this man is astonishing. Seriously, this is just incredible that someone that is "anti religious " has such an open mind and wants to learn about religions in general and have a debate or discussion with religious people its just awesome!

[@JaimeEskobar]

"You can't completely disregard a race or country of people based of a few people fucking it up for them" CJ Macmahon . So simple and true and so few that says it.

[@MsJoeyJody]

I could listen to his accent all day long XD

[@DeivDom]

straight to the face without any bs. i luv this dude. im happy i kinda grew up on same values/logic and can really relate to that. pity so many human beings are totally different. their belief systems and ignorance and greed and un-educated blindness is driving humanity down

[@IntimateAlien]

Great Interview! So glad I got to see them live 3 times with CJ as the Vocalist.

[@MrTyler489]

I love this. Thanks guys for the great music.

[@matt_klein]

As he said in response to the last question, they have the ability to be 10x bigger than what they are now. It's so sad that bands like TAIM are paid so little for the grueling work they put in. Losing a front man only slows that climb even more. It really sucks that he's been faced with this ultimatum. His presence, personality, song writing and influence will be missed. I wish him nothing but the absolute best in the next chapter of his life.

[@brandontyler5621]

Guys, lets make a campaign for cj. help financially support him. I absolutely LOVE this bamd and would LOVE to see him join back. maybe if we start this and help him enough, he'll come back. you heard him say if he do it for the rest of his life he would do it.. lets help him so he can write more badass music. 🤘❤

[@wilmckillop7363]

great interview. he puts all the points over very well

[@Oma30003]

we the fans should start a kickstart campaign and support them one dollar per fan would make a huge difference

[@neokonker001]

What A Beautiful Soul

[@rachelanderson5322]

I'm so glad I got to shake his hand after the show right before he resigned!!! Great guy, so incredibly talented, I appreciate all his hard work! Thank you CJ!!!

[@harrisonbounds6881]

Finally some good questions for him to answer

[@Unearthlywhales]

CJ is the greatest bro I never met. I hope to see him continue in some form in Metal. He is such a beast vocalist. The thing I love most is that he says the they "talk about" certain topics in the lyrics of the songs while he screams it with his lovely voice. Btw CJ if you ever read this you are always welcome in Breda!

[@superjoint57]

I wish I had the money to support this man!!! If he is not as sincere & real as he seems in this interview, then I think he should be the best actor of all time! Best of luck to you CJ! If I hit the lottery, don't be surprised if you hear from this fellow regular dude!

[@Car2theLyle]

This is Fucking EPIC. This is why i love them. straight forward, no bullshit, fuck ignorance. CJ you are truly missed brother.

[@drummergurl8172]

Coolest fucking dude i have ever met, Seen them a couple of months ago after the second song CJ did a speech on Meth and how fucked it is, it was fucking amazing!!!! Then got to talk to him after his set and told him how moved i was by it. Will be sadly missed hopefully he moves on to bigger and better things. Keep rocking CJ!!

[@hughbrenner69420]

Haha did the same thing when he came to tassy

[@AndrewJShirley]

Fucking love this interview, the passion and drive he can feel from him is awesome. I hate to have to use the term but he is seriously real and came across well. Honesty is sometimes a missing element in music, but this interview is so awesome to bring a voice to the band.

[@Cristov123]

God I'm gonna miss looking forward to new Thy Art material hearing CJ's brutal vox. Grats on starting a family though we will all miss you! Me and all my buds are huge TAIM fans now and always

[@inArtetaWeTrust91]

seeing these guys with parkway so ill buy merch to help them stay on the stage !!!

[@sonofholyghost_arefar]

great band I love it since the first time I heard it hopefully this band will last for so long with this formation!

[@hy77faqq]

Skip to 12:30 he explains

[@StevenZissimos]

Just bought Holy War. Much respect to this man and the rest of Thy Art Is Murder.

[@jordanforrer7965]

He's a really smart cool guy it's sad he left the band today.. Everyone will miss this guy a lot! Hopefully one day he will guest on some future songs for bands

[@lukewilkinson3578]

great interview. very interesting to hear how passionate he is about religious views and how well educated he is. seems like a genuine person, such a shame he has left, but can totally understand why he left.

[@cbatmedia6214]

Thank you. Glad you liked the interview and got some insight from it

[@gnmsthink8874]

Immediately buying Thy Art merch after this interview

[@smithtrooperxcix7059]

Dude, right when they cancelled the concert I was going to due to covid, I instantly went to the internet and bought a Holy War hat, mainly to support the guys, I need these guys around, so I did what I could to support them in this difficult time

[@s12music68]

So glad he never left!! Seeing them in January 🤟🤟

[@SeanSikes_]

C J your a good human mate, your a legend x

[@jeusvox2878]

Damn if CJ made a channel giving advice he could have a good source of income and keep up with it in the road especially. Best wishes for these guys.

[@josephdoyle8266]

I'm happy I got to see C J with the Parkway Drive Ire Tour US before he left but i'm sad to see him go :(

[@philclarke3660]

Awesome interview.

[@terrorkind]

We will LOVE to have you in germany

[@StuTheSoftwareAnalyst]

Cj is a very intelligent guy. Agree with him or not, you have to respect what he says, he makes very valid points. Im just trying to wrap my head around a Thousand dollars a piece over the past 5 years.... is their label ripping them off? Are they being nickel and dimed on everything by them? Generally the label will cover more massive expenses (Right?) I would assume so, but I am not the most educated on these things. The way I see it though they are one of the bigger bands on Nuclear Blast and bands of their caliber on a label like Nuclear Blast (even being international I.E. Behemoth)shouldnt be getting shorted like that. Something just feels very wrong and unfair about that situation. They are being ripped somewhere. It is sad... But this in an odd way should give people so much respect for metal musicians because they are so hard working and they dont do it for the money, they do it for the passion and love. I love TAIM and CJ brought so much creative and unique delivery to their sound. He will be missed but I totally respect his decision.

[@deviltelletubbie]

Labels act more like a bank. They loan you the money to make an album, but you won't start making anything until the sales of the album result in the label making that money back. Even after that, the royalties artists earn are miniscule unless they sell millions of copies (not even exaggerating). Also,TAIM are a deathcore band. Deathcore is not a genre of music you can make a living off of unless you have numerous streams of outcome outside of music. I can assure you that even the most successful bands in the genre (TAIM aren't up there yet) like Suicide Silence don't make a great living. They probably make enough to get by but not a lot. Bands like Behemoth are huge in their home countries but again, they play a very nice genre of music. It's not unlikely that the members of those bands have numerous sources of income. Labels these days are the reason you see a growing number bands go indie (look at Enter Shikari, not metal but totally independent and hugely successful).

[@deviltelletubbie]

I should add that labels rarely contribute to touring costs. That's usually all on the band.

[@gabekortez4062]

He's giving his all. Lets support this band! Buy their music, merch and see live shows! Bring your friends with you!

[@cbatmedia6214]

Good man. I've met few people more deserving than C J and Thy Art

[@wpBill]

My friend and I bought the albums, bought all the merch, caught all the shows in Illinois despite being seniors in high school and having tons of college classes and applying for scholarships. I considered myself a loyal fan, supporting thy art in any way possible and now I'm not sure if I can see thy art the next time they roll around cuz I haven't seen a fill in for CJ that can fill in well enough. Such a shame

[@GreifvogelSGE]

Braden Bankes CJ's back!!

[@RebeIMate]

In would be a lost for world if CJ stopped signing... I fucking love this dude, his voice and the whole band!

[@danielbaxter6783]

i still remember the album release tour for The Adversary album, met CJ, he is such an amazing person, also got a pic with Lee, maddest mofo ever

[@imperatorglaber1752]

One of the very few good deathcore bands completly underrated band, very brutal

[@CowboysBlogOfficial]

Straight to the main vein. Fucking badass. Thy Art is Murder is badass.

[@boredtodeath1133]

Now he's back

[@blackcraft3465]

Welcome back CJ

[@User0155]

I totally agree with him, very good

[@raizencore]

It's truly sad though, still hits very hard to these days, hope TAIM can do what they were doing before but the music industry is so fucked up and corrupt it's no joke. I still have a huge amount of respect for CJ, he's being real, straight talk, no bullshit! Wish he never left the band but when you can't even make a living off of what you love then you are going to evenutally give up. I know for a fact, CJ probably never wanted to leave but you know, the conditions are fucking shit and it will just make you stop doing what you love doing. :(

[@clashofkingskrumwiede6661]

Dude you guys FUCKING rock! Totally understood everything in holy war, evervfucking part, I knew i was righ.

[@colinwood897]

you did get to the top!

[@TheTyrant]

just a heads up best buy stocks your cds i got holy war from best buy :), i couldn't find hate in the location's stock so i had them order it for me, i got it on itunes first but i have to have me some cds

[@jimmyjansenNL]

CJ loves holland, awesome! :D

[@JOKER6CORE]

Fucking awesome guy! :D :D CJ is the man! :3 :3 Great interview too! :D

[@cbatmedia6214]

Thank you, glad you like it. C J is one of the best people we've ever spoken to, interview or not.

[@p4fizzle]

Perfect Human

[@jaimerivera7872]

Words Of The Wise.

[@ReignOfFools]

it is extremely sad to see him talking about his passion going on stage and being in the band knowing that he left the band.

[@RespiteofChampions]

Wow...it's a HUGE loss in the metal community that CJ's leaving. I get it, the rockstar life is super hard if you aren't American, but I'm fucking sad. DEVASTATED. He hasn't left yet, there IS a 9 month deadline. Given his reasoning, WE NEED TO BUY ALL THE MERCH. WE NEED TO PURCHASE ALLLLLLLLL OF THEIR STUFF. PETITION TO KEEP CJ IN TAIM, SIGN HERE NOW.

[@blueskythinking4745]

Petitions don't mean shit.. The only time they work is when someone's business is on the line due to bad publicity from a petition against them

[@RespiteofChampions]

You're obviously not gonna sign so just leave

[@theknucklehead92]

at around the 27 minute mark you can hear the genuine pain in his voice and how upset he is.

[@stu6665]

This was at manchester in the UK. He was the sweetest guy ever when i spoke to him and got a photo. He's an amazing vocalist. We're right outside the bus when he waves i was waving at him 😎🤘🏻. Gonna miss him

[@JoeShitTheRagMan_GravelGurdy]

Just got into TAIM and I must say that this dude is fucking amazing

[@rocknrollnerd5]

What a brilliant man. Many people I've come across assume the guys who play this kind of music are the sort of overly crude and hyperactive senseless "emos" or thugs (think high school metal bands with no musical skill and just doing it because they think it makes them look cool or they're just angst-ridden teenagers), which, granted, some of them are, but generally the bands who actually know what they're doing like TAIM are some of the best, most honest and nicest people on the planet. Most people in metal are pretty happy people and I respect that deeply.

[@xXGyakusatsuXx]

23:15 dont drink and do drugs but smoke a lot of weed and tobacco. duuuude. same here. i am a passionate smoker, and ye, i know this isn't a good thing but it is how it is i guess.

[@nutkicker6144]

Hopefully he'll still do guest vocals or the sort

[@TKAM88]

@Nuclear Blast, get him back. These guys deserve the chance.

[@mikehunt4797]

Seems like a cool dude!

[@brettwodon5896]

he just left today, how could this be about how he left...

[@911airsoftdude]

+Brett Wodon YES!! I was just wondering that.

[@TheMarga628]

watch the interview. haha he mentioned that his family supports him financially while touring etc...

[@iii5091]

+Brett Wodon It's only a matter of going back and edit the title of the upload.

[@TheMarga628]

Exactly hahaa Leopoldo Gonzalez​

[@SuperSouLSniping]

+Brett Wodon Yeah he was probably finishing the tour

[@celestialbark3656]

I don't want him to leave the band :c

[@MrDamburger]

+celestial bark Same :/ in recent interviews he seems very negative and keeps mentioning leaving the band

[@a.w.5069]

he's mentioned wanting a family numerous times in interviews and the man's gotta do what he's gotta do.

[@MrDamburger]

addie Webb no shit

[@sarumadaki]

+celestial bark too late

[@TheTyrant]

+slaughterofthesoul95 but he didn't leave because they are performing and touring this year

[@sevenwebdeveloper]

I wanna read that news article.

[@ttacx]

That was awesome

[@shadowy_dark105]

rip cj

[@abolishnato]

CJ on some real shit

[@davetheMFdrummer]

did he say he could live in Germany, Poland (Holland?) ?

[@Theheavyspammingraider]

What song exactly is behemoth/ nergal impressed? Naked and cold?

[@thatdude8710]

dude left cause he was only making 16k a year for their awesome music, makes me feel like shit as a fan sadly, best to you CJ

[@REAPER55667798]

Do you have the Austrailian news article link with TAIM's Guitarist?

[@cbatmedia6214]

+REAPER55667798 I've had a search, can't find anything, sorry

[@REAPER55667798]

+CBAT Media no problem the interview was great regardless

[@cbatmedia6214]

+REAPER55667798 thanks man. Really appreciate it and glad that people are enjoying/getting some insight from the interview

[@FrustratedEngin33r]

26.28 He is talking about Bring Me The Horizon >:D !

[@jonnysimpson093]

Gilles Wuyts Bring me the horizon plays live. You can her the difference in oli's voice and different parts where Jordan sings.

[@scoobaseth]

I’m almost certain that he’s talking about the Amity Affliction, those guys are absolute fakes and if you pay attention to their live performances it’s so obvious

[@dwallfilm2647]

cj says it like it is, unless you are iron maiden, its hard to be in a band financially

[@totivazquez1403]

Fuck man, that future was nearer than I thought

[@JoshWearsPrada5]

I listen to this band for the music a lot more than I do the lyrics, because I am a Christian. But everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. I can spread the word of God but I can't make someone believe the same things as me and as a Christian I don't get offended by this type of music. I believe what I believe as does this band

[@warrebrits7196]

There's no god

[@warrebrits7196]

Get your fkn mind straight

[@shadowy_dark105]

god = ded

[@JoshWearsPrada5]

+ShAdowy_DaRk everone's entitled to their own beliefs. And I'm also not gonna be "that guy" to say that u guys r ginna burn in hell. Believe wat u want. Even CJ says in the video that he respects all religions. Maybe show some respect. U really wanna waste ur time trying to tell people that God is dead. My God, isn't dead and nothing u say will change that and it does not affect my life in any way because He is alive in me. But uh, yeah, have a good one bruh

[@jonnysimpson093]

I want to show this to everyone who thinks that people who play or listen to metal are mentally insane, uneducated or evil and all that bad shit. We are just normal people and I'm probably a bit biased but I think that people who listen to metal are a bit smarter are more put together than most people.

[@TheDuckoncrack]

Fuckin oath CJ. Well said.

[@hellomynameisbillyma]

Welcome back, you crazy fucker 🤘🏻

[@Todn_Hamekul]

just 1000 ?? per year? each? why??

[@TheColognican51213]

Even if I may appear slightly ignorant and "conservative" but though, whoever will replace CJ, he will always be (and stay) the (real) lead singer of the band man! His voice was so unique and has set a milestone and a landmark to the death metal industry that I'm very suspicious about his follower. Sorry, but this is my very personal and subjective opinion

[@wouterarmyx-s8954]

Liked the weed part!

[@darthmalgus4959]

Brendan: 😳 CAN I JOIN BACK PLS The rest of the band: 😒 nu...

[@YheFox]

what is the way to support TAIM? buying the merch?

[@GreifvogelSGE]

Dalar Pelle buy their clothes and CDs (iTunes/Amazon also helps) and go to their concerts!

[@alexecheverria8971]

Dalar Pelle also listening to their music on Pandora or Spotify

[@genaschtes]

i dont get the fuss. most precious blood had a maria with a bomb belt on their cover YEARS ago.

[@Fender666Bass]

CJ leaving is gonna be the death of Thy Art is Murder, mark my words.

[@codyyates13]

I don't understand how Holy Wars concept , lyrics, or album art are a big deal but The Adversary is totally fine lol

[@Xboxishomo]

Wow literally and example of the golden straitjacket, how neoliberalism constrains political discourse.

[@noahbailis2855]

1000$ a year each?! No way, either someone is ripping them off really, really hard, they make more than that, or they never eat...

[@jamesgrenard]

Ugh...and now hes gone :(

[@p4fizzle]

Damn straight you're no1 TAIM 4 LIFE!!!!

[@MajinRah99]

Metalocalypse

[@Pamahana]

I've been saying this everywhere I can. but Cj said during a performance that "The Purest Strain of Hate" made them millions of dollars. If it made them that much money and they are getting so little from it there's nothing wrong with the industry it's just being a shitty business man

[@jaydenshea]

+Heath C-c five that song isn't even a single, and their records have sold nowhere near enough to gain them millions. I'd probably take that comment as an offhand joke.

[@Antonypacman]

+Heath C-c I think you need to learn about sarcasm.

[@Pamahana]

I'm just saying if any bit of it is true, then he's a shitty business man

[@georgeag9763]

cj quits illuminati....right move...

[@RustyFiReWorKs]

R.I.P. TAIM

[@TheVeganBear]

the band's not over they already have a replacement and he's pretty good

[@bennypeteidol5956]

+Ted E Bear really? who will replace cj?

[@TheVeganBear]

Benny Eitel the band is called Molotov solution I think It's molotov something

[@bennypeteidol5956]

thank you, dude! he seems to be a very good vocalist but he can never reach this buttfucking sound of cj 's voice...

[@TheVeganBear]

Benny Eitel listen to a few songs, I heard one song where I was like this is crap then another I was like mmmhhhhh he kinda sounds like CJ but his highs are like Brendan the original vocalist on the Ep