We caught up with Mark from The Unseen just after the band finished touring all across America on the Warped Tour.

Hello and thank you for taking time out to do this interview.

First of all can you give me a brief history of the band for the people who are new to The Unseen.
Well we have been going about 11 years now we started in highschool out of bordom. We have been doing this full time non stop for about 5 years. We just released our new album internal salvation on hellcat records in july.

What made you get into punk in the first place?
I was into metal bands like slayer, motorhead, metallica a friend of mine gave me a sex pistols album. I wasn’t into it. The same friend 2 weeks later gave me minor threat,misfits, at that point I was hooked esp at first with minor threat. I was so into the music and lyrics. I had a shitty time growing up a lot of my family was into drugs and alchohol at the time I was straight edge mainly because I was afraid of turning into the rest of my family. Well minor threat was so important to me because of the straight edge lyrics. From there I got into other punk. Discharge,samhain,negative approach,exploited etc.

You have just released your new album 'Internal Salvation' are you happy with the final result?
id always like to change a few things. Im not supper happy with act the part second time we recorded it but for the most part I love the album. It’s the best thing I have been a part of this album and the self destruct e.p,. I did years ago are my 2 fav recordings ive done.

How has 'Internal Salvation' gone down with your fans and major press?
some of our fans love the album some say its ok. No one has said they hate it. The main thing people say if they don’t like it is that its over produced? That’s so odd to me. We try to make a good sounding album not something that was recorded on a 4-track haha. I love early black flag early discharge but I don’t wanna make a album that sounds sonicly like that.

Do you have any favourite songs from your new album 'Internal Salvation'
step inside its about what happens when you die. Something I think about a lot. Also no direction and in your place are favs of mine.

You are signed to Hell-Cat Records how have they been to work with?
its amazing they help us so fuckin much. Ill tell ya we would not be touring u.k. and Europe so much if not for hellcat. They help us by loaning us money to get to places like England.

You have currently just completed the Warped Tour how did it go?
well I got a sweet fuckin tan haha. No it was a great tour long fuckin days but we had fun also some great bands and new friends were made. The gallows are a band I was curious to see and they did not disappoint. We hope to play with them agaian soon.

Did you have the chance to check out many bands on the Warped Tour?
Yes I saw bad religion.gallows,throwdown,mad marge and stone cutters,sgeny orange. circle jerks and more.

The Warped Tour ran for two months, do you have any funny stories from the road?
funny stories hum. I fell flat on my Face one day on stage haha. I saw 6 people all sharing the same tattoo needle tattooing each other is that funny or gross haha I sure wouldn’t be a part of that shit that’s for sure.

You have toured with many great bands, but who have been your favourite band to play with?
that’s tough I might say sick of it all hands down best live band ever. So intense but real not corny or staged bullshit that some bands do.

If you could tour with any band past or present who would it be and why?
Black flag 83 era or misfits right after earth a.d. both bands were at there peek live and album wise.

Do you prefer playing live or recording in the studio?
I love recording its fun to make music but nothing is better then live even if we suck or my voice is shot. To me there is nothing like playing live esp if the fans are into it and signing along.

You are doing a small tour of the UK in November are you looking forward to it?
fuck ya we are psyched to hit the u.k. we are gonna have a blast

What bands will be supporting you on the UK tour?
a bunch I know strawberry blonds and kamakazie sperm.

What do you think of the current state of the music scene at the moment with emo taking over everything, and most bands and fans caring more about image than music?
I care about image haha look at my pretty hair. Haha no for real I think some music fuckin sucks big time and is so fake but ya know I try and not pay attention to it. Emo will die its starting to die in America at warped kids were a bit sick of bands with eye make up wearing there little sisters clothes, I think heavy music will make a return if it doesn’t oh well we will still do it.

If you could live in someone’s shoes (dead or alive) for one day only, who would it be and why?
Jeffery dahmer id love to know what goes through the mind of a serial killer.

Where do you see your band in 5 years time?
who knows maybe still playing maybe gone. Either way ill still be doing this with unseen or not. I love music its my life. It is tough tho to tour so much and keep everyone happy. Right now we are all happy so that’s what matters.

Ok, one final random question that we ask every band, if you had a choice, what animal would you be out of a Zebra and a Giraffe?
that’s a gay question haha I have no idea

Thanks for your time and do you have any passing comment for your fans
reading this?
see you guys soon. For tour dates videos etc go to www.myspace.com/theunseen

Interview By Trigger