HERE ARE SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ'S) THAT WE RECEIVE AND WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER AS BEST WE CAN.
CHECK IT OUT, SOME ANSWERS MAY SUPRISE YOU.


1. YOU GUYS/GAL ARE STRAIGHTEDGE RIGHT?
Undying is NOT a straightedge band. Just because we are vegan does not mean we are straightedge. Two members are edge, and another is drug free. But that's a personal decision for them and not a factor that has any bearing on the band or what we sing about.

2. WHEN YOU SING ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF "ONE CULTURE'S WAY" WHAT ARE YOU REFERRING TO? THE UNITED STATES?
It has to do with a culture of fear, control, and domination. A culture that says humans are the pinnacle of creation or evolution and as kings it is our duty to tame, cultivate, and subject the earth and all its inhabitants to our whims. It is a worldview that developed in several areas of the world but failed because it brought ecological collapse to those whose way of life was based on it. The one that managed to make it was the civilization of the Near East roughly 10,000 years ago. Eurasia provided a large landmass of resources and people to conquer, tame, yolk, and place under the wheel of "progress." For 99 percent of human history, people have not lived this way. The practices of large-scale agriculture and animal domestication TAKE more from the environment than they GIVE. Therefore it is inherently NOT-sustainable, and that is why this one particular way of life has spread so widely and so quickly, to encompass the earth and threaten virtually every eco-system in existence.

There is no such thing as "going back" we are where we are, and we need to deal with the consequences of our way of living here and now. We feel it's important to have a grasp on trends in history because they usually prefigure the outcome of our social and ecological activities. This isn't obscure anarchist theory either; this is mainstream anthropology and archaeology of the past six decades. The fact that our politics and discourse have not come to meet up with advances in science should tell you something about the functioning of Power in our society. When anything legitimately threatens the structure of Power, it is not attacked, it is simply ignored, silenced, like the 200 species per day that go extinct, like the 80 million sex slaves throughout Asia, Africa, and South America, like the 99 percent of our history outside of civilization (somewhere in "pre-history"), like the native peoples on this "empty continent" of North America who were exterminated as a matter of state and federal policy up until the turn of the 20th century, and like the people where we live, here, in Southern Appalachia whose homes and livelihoods are being destroyed by mountain range removal coal mining (a practice that literally blows up the tops of mountains to get at the coal, creating avalanches and debris that have caused deaths, injuries, poisoned rivers, ruined farms, and so far has meant nothing but more money for exec's and misery for those who live on and in the mountains). The author Derrick Jensen has referred to this "silencing" as the mechanism that allows people to objectify, exploit, and destroy others in order to fulfill their selfish desires (or to simply "make the economy work"... but work for who?). You cannot defeat silence with more silence and that is why we sing about what we sing about.

3. IS UNDYING CHRISTIAN?
No. But that doesnt mean we dont experience awe in our daily lives, we can still know and love people without expecting a reward. Thats kind of a strange and frightening idea don't you think? That the universe is arranged as an exchange economy where our thoughts and feelings have to be bought and paid for by a man's torturous death... I guess there have been wierder religions. Besides, not everyone experiences the world in the same way, so to confine it to specific parameters doesn't make much sense in the first place. Maybe the goal is to determine what beliefs are a product of culture and history and what is real, you know, the personal, direct and immediate experience of our lives. We've been conditioned to doubt ourselves and we need to regain our own trust.

4. IS UNDYING A GROUP OF EXTREMISTS WHO THINK ITS OKAY TO KILL PEOPLE TO SAVE ANIMALS?
No way. We don't see how you can argue against cruelty to animals and then go and be just as cruel and dispassionate about violence towards people. Groups like the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) have major rules AGAINST injuring or hurting people. This rarely ever seems to get mentioned. While Undying is not in any way affiliated with either of these groups, we think their actions are important because they bring up a fundamental question: Can we consider property destruction violence? If you believe life is more valuable than property, you cannot begin to call property destruction violence without somehow devaluing your own life, or diminishing the violence inflicted on people all over the world by despots. Justice doesn't mean Revenge and we think it is important that the movement for Animal Rights takes this to heart, and turns away from adopting the mindset of those whose violence they abhor.

5. SO AFTER 7 YEARS AS A BAND, PROMOTING A VEGAN/VEGETARIAN LIFESTYLE IS STILL IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Absolutely. We know it is not going to save the world, but we feel it is absolutely necessary to begin to break down the selfishness that permeates our culture. At all levels. Thats why we have Why Vegan pamphlets at our merch table every night, so people (if they want to) can read about the cruelty and learn about how unnecessary it is, you know? Basically, when it comes down to it, the ability to look into another's eyes and be able to recognize and acknowledge emotions and an intelligence that's completely separate from your own is an incredible gift that we have and share with other creatures. Maybe it's asking too much to extend this respect to non-humans when we can't even seem to get it together ourselves, but you have to start somewhere. Sometimes its easier to feel compassion for animals when it's not so easy to feel for people, so if we can learn something from this we should. For us, being vegan has meant becoming conscious of cruelty and injustice in the world and doing something tangible to effect a change. We feel it can be a very positive change.

6. SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO DONT WANT TO BE "PREACHED AT" AT SHOWS?
We don't like being preached at either. If Logan says anything at a show its usually just a brief song explanation, maybe touching on what was said before about selfishness, or about taking your life back from those who would only use you. Were not out to alienate anyone, but at the same time were not going bend to what some shitty metalcore kid thinks is cool this week. We have been together a lot longer than a lot of other bands out now, and we have our priorities straight. But you know we want to have a good time and play a good show and sing about what we care about, no one should find that threatening.

7. SO WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE CURRENT STATE OF PUNK, HARDCORE/INDEPENDENT MUSIC?
Well it's great that so many people and bands are able to make a living playing music now. Success can be a double edged sword though. Like, a couple bands get big and set the formula for what sells, then you have all the people who want to play music to get famous or whatever who come in and dilute it to no end, and it eventually turns into some kind of bizarre caricature of itself. It seems like that's what has happened with a lot of hardcore or whatever core kind of music over the past several years. Everyone from labels to promoters to bands to kids at shows are learning how to deal with success and more mainstream commercial acceptance. Bottom line is people can tell when a band is totally full of shit. It just sucks when they are all trying to play the same style and ruin it for those focused on creating quality and meaningful music for no other reason but for the love of it.

8. (ANOTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION) WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO CALIFORNIA?
Dont worry. We will be there soon.

9. WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO CANADA?
The Canadian government doesnt like us. We might owe them a large sum of money. Perhaps some of our Canadian friends could have a word with whoever is in charge up there and we can work something out. Right now they wont even let us in the country.

10. WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A NEW RECORD?
Expect a new record early 2006. Were working out some label stuff, getting ready for one more tour in support of At Historys End, and concentrating on writing the best songs we can. It's been a couple years since the release of our last record and we hope people are as eager as we are for a new one.