Seraph's Coal: Changes.

Seraph’s Coal launch The More Things Change at the Lions Den Café on Saturday.

“Since we last spoke a lot has happened! We've had a line up change on guitar, recorded our debut album The More Things Change, we played a live set on Triple J, and even managed to hook up a couple of primetime TV appearances,” laughs Seraph's Coal's drummer and vocalist Dan Jones.

Going further back, can you give me a bit of a Seraphs' history lesson?

“Okay, we formed in October '96 from the break up of a band called Tunnel Vision. This is where I first met Andre, he played bass in the band and I did roaming vocals. Around this time, I met Sam at a Gig For World Peace'. We talked about starting a punk rock band and we exchanged numbers to organise a jam. The first time we all got together it just 'gelled' and we compiled a rough set of songs that same week. As they say the rest is history! After a series of second guitarists, 2 EPs, many months on the road and 6 years later, we're still the original line up: Dan Jones on drums and vocals, Sam Barnes on guitar and vocals, Andre Dumuid on bass, and our new addition Johnny 'Metal' Garrett on guitar.”

Tell me a bit about the new album? Why should everyone rush out and buy a copy?

“To help us out of debt! The album's titled The More Things Change and contains 10 all new songs about life, love and politics. There's a lot of diversity on this one. It goes from one extreme to the other- bubblegum to brutal!”

Who did the artwork? It's pretty awesome.

“The concept and layout were pieced together by our good friend Darren Reid of Embodiment 12:14, and a guy named John Englehardt did the illustrations. He's awesome! He's currently working on the new Jungle Book cartoon for Disney.”

What gave you inspiration in writing the new album?

“The lyrics on the album were generally inspired by the songs themselves. Because I write the music first, I find myself singing these one-liners about things I'm going through and build the lyrics around that.”

Where do you think this album will take Seraph's, it has been anticipated by a lot of people for a long time?

“This will be a big year for the band. A lot of big things are in the pipeline at the moment, but we'll just keep doing what we're doing and take it as it comes. We're just stoked on the album and we just want to tour it!”

A lot of rumours have been circulated about you guys lately. Some people are calling you guys homophobes - would you care to set the record straight?

“That's one thing that we're not! I personally know a lot of people who are homosexual, and they're good friends of mine. I believe in unrestricted choice- that's what freedom is. When I see a person, I see a human being- not the choices that they've made. Wether or not I deem their choices to be correct or incorrect is completely irrelevant. The real threat here is our social dictum (the religion of political correctness) that would have anyone who dares make a choice outside of the framework beaten back into line or weeded out. I don't tolerate homosexual people - I genuinely love them as human beings; there is a big difference!”

What's the biggest misconception people have about you guys?

“Some people think that just because we're not ashamed to call ourselves Christians, that we're this militant right wing fundamentalist anti-gay militia group out to convert everyone at our shows. I don't even like religion. All I have is my faith and my experiences, and if I want to sing about it- I will. Isn't that what music is all about - expression?”

What's something everyone should know about Seraph's Coal?

“That we’re all about Bon Jovi and we're in this for love.”