X5X1X8X, Beastealiphiliac – Thanks for Asking

X5X1X8X, Beastealiphiliac, Thanks for Asking, by Liam Sweeny.

We found Isaac of X5X1X8X and Beastealiphiliac in a mood to talk. So what’d he say?

RRX: Every comic book hero has an origin story. What is the origin story for the band? (points if you tell it like a comic book origin.)

Isaac: I think sort of the nexus point would be the winter jam a couple years ago down at town and country skate. It was one of my first hardcore shows and the people who were playing and the folks from Crisis Isolation were super welcoming and nice. We were talking about music since we were all still musicians at the time and they said if we ever started a band they would try to get us on a bill. That basically ended up being the motivation for X5X1X8x and consequently Beastealiphiliac.

RRX: Every band’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?

Isaac: The first songs we recorded were on our phone set up like 5 feet away from the drum kit so it’s blowing out the speakers and you can’t hear the vocals at all. I think we did it in like 30 minutes and called it a day. Safe to say we have come decently far in my own opinion. We’ve gotten some gear and definitely some much needed experience, as myself and our vocalist Ben are both attending college courses for audio and mixing so hopefully the future and current songs will sound slightly better. Our technique and artistic style have also come a long way since the early days, of which I would chalk it up to just plain old practicing more.

RRX: Like songs, every band has a unique feeling about their first show. What was your first show like? Was it your best show? If not, what was your best show like?

Isaac: Our first show was pretty electric honestly. The energy was there and the crowd really pulled through for us. I wouldn’t say it was our best show musically, but it was a major touchstone in our development as a group musically. I would say our best shows are at places like the Troy Speakeasy where the venue let us get close and personal with the crowd, allowing us to unify the energy in the room as well as going in to mosh if time permits.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some bands. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

Isaac: It’s mostly slam, definitely a lot of hardcore influence as well. I jokingly refer to it when talking about it to coworkers and relatives as “the kind of music you play so that people in the crowd can punch each other” but I joke only out of love haha. The direction we’ve moved towards recently is one that I would describe as more technically slam, guitar and bass-wise.

RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where you see yourself next year? In the next five years?

Isaac: In the next year I would like to be focusing on my solo projects I have stored up as well as continuing to build connections in the area for some of the other genres I play plus the hardcore scene. I am actually a jazz drummer by trade, definitely more so than a hardcore bassist so my studies currently are more focused on that. later on I’m looking to hopefully build my life around music and be in a situation where I can fulfill my love for the passion and spread it to others.

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow bands. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

Shouts outs to Urine for being a comedic band that also is very musical talented, which is what we strive to achieve.

-Isaac of Beasteliaphiliac and x5x1x8x

The 518’s youngest “original” heavy bands

Demos “Real 518 Sh!t” and “518 $lams $hit Demo 2k23” are available on bandcamp.

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