Loudside.com caught up with Daath's guitarist Eyal Levi and Synth/Backing Vocalist Mike Kameron at this year's Ozzfest stop at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View,CA. Here's what they had to say about being a part of this year's Ozzfest, the state of extreme music, and their personal vendetta against Vicks VapoRub.......

Loudside.com: So how has the tour been treating you guys, with the crowd response and whatnot?

Eyal: So far, so good. Today we had the biggest pit we've ever had in our life. It looked like a little dust storm tornado. It was Awesome!

Mike: Yeah, it was just like emanating a developing phenomena out of the center of the mosh pit, and it was just incredible!

Loudside.com: Ok, so how do you guys feel about the rotating slots and having to play during the day with the sun beating down on you?

Eyal: It makes you work harder.

Mike: Um, we have no air conditioning so yeah.....FUCK YEAH!! (laughing)

Eyal: Yeah, I mean it's hotter in our vehicle than it is outdoors, so basically it's like a nice cool breeze when we play.

Mike: Let me tell you a secret man....even in the midday sun, it's as dark as night.(laughing)

Eyal: (laughing) Yeah, it's not so bad.

Loudside.com: (laughing) Ok, now I know you guys took part in some of the dates for the Summer Slaughter, and I know it's not on the same scale as Ozzfest, but the entire tour was a success. And now we've got you guys, Behemoth, Nile, and Chthonic on a tour like this. Taking that into accord, what are your thoughts on the state of extreme music and it's current slow but steady ascent into the 'metal mainstream'?

Eyal: Summer Slaughter, I mean, with most of the nights being sold out, I think that's a pretty good indicator that extreme music is pretty big now. And the fact that you have Four extreme bands on Ozzfest.....I think that's a first, ever. So it seems like extreme music's in a good place. Hopefully it will only go to a better place.

Mike: Hey, we embrace the things that people fear the most, and if you look at the things you fear, rather than letting it control you, then you'll overcome it. And if we spread that message, then I think we're doing a good thing for extreme music.

Loudside.com: Right on. So tell me a little bit about the track 'Dead On The Dancefloor'. Where did the inspiration for that come from?

Eyal: It came from the idea of watching little techno raver girls overdosing on 'E'......and us laughing at them.

Mike: Pretty much, you know, just the automatons, the robotic people who inhabit our world and just follow anything. And it's not them man, it's just a reaction of them, but yeah, they're down.

Eyal: It's our rebellion against Vicks VapoRub.

Mike: It's a personal vendetta.

Eyal: Yeah we've just.....too much Vicks VapoRub going around.....(laughing)

Mike: Vicks VapoRub and ya know.....(mimics Mr. Burns from The Simpsons) "We're gonna help you guys, and blow it up". (laughing)

Loudside.com: (laughing) Ok.....on a similar note, how did you guys get involved with Danny Lohner for the remix of the track?

Eyal and Mike: We have no idea.

Mike: Magic, it's all magic, Magic is REAL! And we are experienced to it.

Eyal: It happened. He appeared in my life one day....there he was Danny Lohner. And we were like 'Ok, you're Danny Lohner, it's cool.'

Mike: And there was a white halo behind him.....and he radiated. He had a peculiar glow to him. (holding back laughter)

Loudside.com: Ok, now tell me a little bit about the album itself. I know there's a link to the Kabbalah, but it's not the main focus. How much of an influence does that have on the lyrical content overall, and does the album title tie into that?

Mike: Well hey, ya know, the Tree of Life is a universal concept, and it goes back to Egypt, Babylonia, the Pagans with the Yggsdrasil Tree have it. And they all have pretty much the same message, so really what we're doing is not Jewish mysticism, or any mysticism, but it's universal. That's the thing, one thing, if we can encompass it, is man this stuff is universal, and it doesn't matter what filter it comes through, it still comes through.

Eyal: And on top of that, we're a pretty anti-religious band, so it doesn't really center on any religion or whatever. We look at it as primitive psychology. That's about the end of it.

Loudside.com: Cool. Now I only know a little bit about your self released debut, 'Futility'. Does that album also tie in to 'The Hinderers', and are there any plans to re-release it?

Mike: Yeah, it's all in an endless series of albums. It's actually not endless, there's thirteen. And thirteen albums within thirteen albums, like a fractal. So each one expresses a different part of the adverse side of the human psyche. So each one exposes that, and you make what you will with it. Maybe you'll embrace it, maybe you'll overcome it, but it doesn't matter cause you're expressing it.

Eyal: And 'Futility' is part of that.

Mike: Right, 'Futility' is the first in a series of expressions.

Loudside.com: So is that gonna be re-released at all?

Eyal: Re-released? That's not really up to us. I mean we can sell it online all we want, but it's really up to a label, if they want to take that on.

Loudside.com: Gotcha. Now, the thirteen Sephira, that also has a tree within, is that a predetermination of the longevity of this band?

Mike: Not necessarily.

Eyal: Hopefully!

Mike: Hopefully, yes. I mean, the goal is to do it, and to express it all, but you know, life happens, and as we ingress, we'll go as far as we can. And you know, hopefully we can get to the end.

Eyal: I mean it's certainly a good fucking challenge man. Most bands do not stick around that long. We will do our very best, but no predictions. We will try our hardest.

Loudside.com: And is there a specific time frame that you have in mind, for getting these albums out there?

Eyal: Before I die.

Mike: Umm, I think after the next one, which we'll start in January, if all goes well, we'll be doing double albums from there on out. Showing both sides of the contrast, Yin and Yen all the way down. So hopefully we'll be doing this in a seven album cycle. So we'll see....

Eyal: (Laughing) Who knows.......

Mike: I got a plan, I got it worked out...

Eyal: We all got plans.

Loudside.com: (laughing) Now as far as touring goes, what are the plans for Daath after Ozzfest? Anything solid lined up?

Eyal: Yes, we have a tour in Japan with Dying Fetus and some other unnamed acts who are really fucking cool. And we have Dark Funeral and Naglfar in the U.S. in the fall, and that's all.

Mike: That's it, and then you will hear new material.

Eyal: And then we got the Rolling Stones and Metallica opening up for us...(laughing)

Mike: And next album, watch out.....it's 'The Concealers'. It's about those who instill the highest moral values in us, but then molest us. So, think of it that way. (laughing)

Loudside.com: (laughing) Ok.....the now a question regarding Kevin. I know he's been booted out of numerous bands, or whatever happened happened. Is he gonna be a permanent member of Daath??

Eyal: Yessir. He's one of the best drummers in metal. We're crazy enough to keep him.

Mike: If you've ever seen Sesame Street, that monster that lives in a garbage can......uhhhh, that's him!

Eyal: OR his alter ego, if you've ever seen the muppets and seen uhhhh.....ANIMAL!! That's him!

*Laughter all around*

Eyal: Those other bands can't fucking handle a REAL fuckin Drummer! Done Deal......