Ray Mazzola, vocalist of the hardcore/metal bands Brick By Brick and Full Blown Chaos, recently took the time to answer some of my questions in a video interview. He discussed a variety of topics including new music, a collaboration with Jack Daniel’s, the Upstate Records Friends & Family Fest, and memories throughout the years.
Brick By Brick is a hardcore/metal band based out of Upstate New York. Ray Mazzola (from Full Blown Chaos) was added as the band’s vocalist in 2014 and immediately went into the studio. The following year they released ‘This World, My Enemy’ through Eulogy Recordings. They have shared the stage and toured with the likes of Anthrax, Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Biohazard, Agnostic Front, Madball, The Acacia Strain, Terror, Biohazard, and Sick Of It All. They have also appeared on many festivals such as New England Metal Fest, Black n Blue Bowl, Tsunami Fest, Breast Fest, Motorcity Fest, Grownfest, ToughLoveFest, Florida Rules, and Sound Of Revolution Fest. In August of 2017, the band released ‘Thin The Herd’ on Fastbreak Records and got to re-release it on vinyl with worldwide distribution with the help of Fastbreak Records, Demons Run Amok, and Pitchfork Clothing. Now, the band is signed with Upstate Records and released ‘Hive Mentality’ in 2019.
Well respected in the New York Hardcore scene, Full Blown Chaos is a hardcore/metal band that self-released their first EP in 2001 on their bassist’s label Jailhouse Records. Their second EP ‘Prophet of Hostility’ was released in 2003 on Stillborn Records, a label owned by Hatebreed’s frontman Jamey Jasta. The band’s original vocalist was replaced by Ray Mazzola who was the co-vocalist for 36 Deadly Fists. They released their album ‘Wake The Demons’ in 2004 followed by the album ‘Within the Grasp of Titans’ in 2006 and ‘Heavy Lies the Crown’ in 2007. The band has toured with such acts as Hatebreed, Terror, Sick Of It All, Madball, Himsa, and Napalm Death as well as having appeared at festivals including Ozzfest and the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival.
