MUNICIPAL WASTE is one of the highest profile bands of the current new wave of American Thrash and deservedly so - few bands can inject the energy, enthusiasm and passion into a live set like MUNICIPAL WASTE can. With their third full-length album, "The Art Of Partying", released on Earache last year and a tour with reactivated Swedish legends AT THE GATES this Summer, MUNICIPAL WASTE will continue to ride high.

Tell us a little bit about your inspiration for your new album, "The Art of Partying". I must say it is probably the greatest concept record of all time.

(laughs) "Well, we've partying a long time and now it's finally come time to put the record out that just sums it all up for us, you know, and we're pretty haggard coming up to this record from partying. (laughs) It's about having fun and it's what we do and it's like, a concept record that's not super serious, you know, it's just a fun record that describes what we are as a band, you know. We're a band that likes to involve the crowd and give them beer bongs and of course, they appreciate that and then we wrote a song about 'The Inebriator' and that's about our beer bong that we give the crowd, so certain concepts link in with our stage show on this record, so it's definitely fun for the crowd."

What was the basic idea behind the cover art? Like are they zombies, mutants or just dying?

"It's about the song 'Chemically Altered' on the record, where people go to a keg party and there's something in the beer that alters them and turns them into what you'd say are quote-unquote 'zombies'. We didn't say 'we want a zombie keg party', we were like, 'we want people changing from what they're drinking', which I guess could be interpreted to the naked eye as just a good horror theme to like, zombie cover, but it's seriously just normal people altered from beer. Toxic waste beer."

What would win in a street fight - a zombie or a mutant?

"Ah... I think a mutant, 'cause a mutant has stronger powers than a zombie, you know, you just chop their fuckin' head off and they're dead. A mutant could have something special about it that would re-grow, I think, out of any orifice. That's why I think mutants are tougher."

Okay, then who would win in a fight - a mutant or Kurt Russell?

"Kurt don't get hurt - he'll get right back up. It depends; I think Snake Pliskin could kill a mutant, but Kurt Russell himself would probably get killed by a mutant, the actor. Snake... Snake would get out of it."

What was it like being on the cover of the recent Metal Maniacs issue?

"It's an honor, man. I mean, we've been touring hard for a long time and to see it on paper like that, our hard work has been put out there, I think it's totally justified and an honor at the same time. So hope to see us on more covers."

I saw you headline last year, you played about half an hour. Why so short for a headlining set?

"Because our songs are so damn fast and short, you see thirty minutes, you just saw twenty-five songs. (laughs) I think that's justified. And we get real tired 'cause we're pretty much half-drunk while we're up there and we're drunk by the time it's done, so you're lucky if you get to see the set. (laughs)"

What are the plans for the next album?

"Fast as shit and just stepping it up once again, just making it fucking more intense and we'll see. It's seriously... I feel like we're progressing each time, you know, not to sound pretentious or anything, but they're getting better and better 'cause we're getting more solid as a band, as a unit, so just the intensity level rises, I think it'll be more intense. That's what we try to do - more abrasive."

I noticed that Earache already has it pegged for a September 2008 release...

"That's bullshit, 'cause we never made a date. (laughs)"

What's your working relationship with Earache like?

"(laughs) No comment! (more laughter)"

Okay, fair enough. Just one last question - what are your post-tour plans?

"Relax and hang out with my woman and just soak it all in. It's been a long year, man. I think we deserve a little time off - we've been out all year, so just kick back and try to sleep in, you know. Just take some rest. Party a little bit." [FIN]