Metal Pit :   Hello Morgan, thank you so much for taking time for us today,it is truly an honor to get the chance to chat with you a while.   First off, I want to say congratulations on the release of your fifth full length cd entilted "In the Black",which
I think is just a killer disc,who came up with the title for this cd and do you think that title reflects the music inside?

Morgan Lander:      It was sort of my idea to call the album "IN THE BLACK" but the ladies all agreed that it made sense as an album title. Technically the phrase is a financial term used by businesses to show they are doing well or turning a profit. In a way the title was a declaration of our freedom and a positive outlook on the future. But also "IN THE BLACK" represents a back to basics approach to the writing and recording process of the album. Its dark, heavy and in your face....

Metal Pit :         The cover photo is very cool with all of you dressed in Black, but I just have one question....why is everyone
so pissed off, haha?

Morgan:            That's just our faces hahaha! 

Metal Pit :         Was there a conscious effort by the band to make this cd heavier and a bit nastier or did it just kind of happen
during the recording process?

Morgan:            Absolutely. When going into the writing and recording process of "IN THE BLACK" we had decided early on that we wanted the album to be the complete antithesis of our previous release. We wanted to capture the raw agressive power that is present when we play a live show and wanted the production to be huge.

Metal Pit :          Despite hearing some negative talk about the band "Selling out" on the last cd Funeral for Yesterday, which
I thought was ridiculous because in my opinion the overall sound of FFY may have been sightly toned down,however
your real fans sympathized with all of you during a pretty dark time in your lives and the cd was still very good. But did
the band feel you had something to prove with this disc, like you wanted to shut some people the Hell up who doubted you?

Morgan:          Perhaps, but there is always something to prove with us! Regardless, we feel that with each album we are always growing, evolving and testing our musical boundaries so it only made sense to throw a curve ball and do things differently with "IN THE BLACK".. Some aspects of the previous release were beyond our control, but overall it's still a great record. I just think alot of it has to do with where our heads are at during the writing process and we were definitely in a darker place when writing the new album.

Metal Pit :        You have a dedication on the new cd to your Father David Lander,was that something you and Mercedes felt strongly about doing?


Morgan:          Of course! He was such an amazing man, who had an unwaivering devotion to the band. He was a wonderful manager, who was always there for us, making things easier. And he was a great Dad. It was the least we could do to honor his dedication to the band and his family....This was his last labour of love.

Metal Pit :         Do you feel like signing with E1 let the band take the handcuffs off and have complete control over all
the decisions regarding what kind of music goes on the finished product?

Morgan:           We have always been 100% completely in control when it comes to our careers, so not much has really changed in regards to that. But I have found that historically speaking we work best and are at our most creative when left by ourselves and to our own devices. Signing with E1 has boosted our moral and it's given us new hope and allowed us a drama and pressure free existence, especially when it comes to the new album. We had the CD finished before we had even signed with E1, and they thought what we did with it was perfect...I think that's a good sign.

Metal Pit :        Who does the majority of the lyric writing and does the entire band add their input as well?

Morgan:          For the most part I do the majority of lyric writing but in with the past 2 releases Mercedes has added alot of lyrical content as well.

Metal Pit :       Where did the insiration for the lyrics for this cd come from because some of them are pretty powerful?

Morgan:        I like to think that the majority of this album is about the emotional turmoil of being human, the human condition. The plague of having feelings and caring. Sometimes you wish you could turn them off.

Metal Pit :        I have to be honest,I love this cd and do not think there is a bad tune on it, but I do have some favorites such as....."My Plague", Cut Throat"," Whiskey Love Song", "Ready - Aim - Riot" and "The Truth",can you give us a brief insight into
these tunes?

Morgan:         My Plague - This song is about the plagues of humanity, the pain of being human and having to endure thoughts and feelings that make one weak.

Cut Throat - The lyrical content of this song has to do with the unfortunate way people treat each other. Its about the way we interact as people, and how rotten and uncaring we can be to each other.

Whiskey Love Song - This is just a good old drinking song.. It's basically personifying booze and singing about a love hate relationship.

Ready Aim Riot - This song is about how there are too many souless people in the world, taking up space and dumbing down society.

The Truth - Its kind of one of those vague emotional songs about myself and how I feel in general.

Metal Pit :     What are some of your personal favorites on the cd and why?

Morgan:       I really love all the heavier tunes like "My Plague" "Cut Throat" "Forgive and Forget" and "The Truth" but I also have really been enjoying "Sorrow I Know" and "Falling Down" lately, especially in a live setting.

Metal Pit :    As musicians I think the band has come of age on this disc, your vocals have never sounded better and you have definitley reached a whole other level with your range.Tara showcases some excellent guitar work as well which sadly
alot of bands seem to be missing today. Mercedes has to now be considered one of the elite drummers in Metal today (male or female). And Ivy's bass playing solidifies a very tight rhythm section. With that being said Do you think this lineup is the best you have ever had and will it be permanent this time?

Morgan:      Of course this is the best line-up we have ever had! Everyone is so talented and driven, its hard not to see that and know its perfect. Although, it was never our intention to have a semi-permanent or changing line-up in years gone by. It is just something that happened during the evolutionary process of the band. Now, things are different. There is something about the chemistry that Tara, Mercedes, Ivy and I have as a band together that just really clicks. We have so much fun writing and playing together that I think its safe to say that we'll be sticking together for a long time!

Metal Pit :     There have been so many lineup changes with Kittie throughout the years and by all accounts that I have heard both yourself and Mercedes are very cool people to work with so do you think it was personality clashes, difference of musical direction, bad luck or maybe all of the above that has lead to all the changes?

Morgan:       There have been alot of different instances over the years, so all of the above is probably the best answer. In general though, I think one has to understand that when we started this band we were 12 and 14 years old. It is difficult to wrap one's head around that, but when you are that young you still aren't sure who you are and where you are going. This type of work requires an intense emotional investment, which is something most people can't offer or can't handle.. We have had to literally grow up in public and dealt with all of our bands growing pains within the view of the metal community. We have done alot of evolving over the years and I think we have finally settled into who we are and what we want as a band, and can attract like minds.

Metal Pit :     Have you stayed in touch with any of the old bandmates?

Morgan:       Not really.

Metal Pit :     You and Mercedes along with Fallon Bowman formed the band in 1996 and you were basically all just kids back then, does the old saying of "we wish we knew back then what we know now" ever pop into your heads?

Morgan:       Not really. I believe that everything happens for a reason and every bad situation has a learning experience attached to it. I wouldn't be who I am today without all the bullshit I've had to endure.

Metal Pit :    What made you all get into Metal back then and what bands would you say influenced you the most?

Morgan:     When we were growing up Mercedes and I were surrounded by a ton of 70's and 80's rock and metal, care of my parents which helped to shape our musical choices later in life. When were were old enough to develop our own tastes, we gravitated towards stuff like Tool, Nirvana, Marilyn Manson, Deftones, Helmet and the like, which influenced the songs on our first album. Since then, however, our musical tastes have grown aand changed...

Metal Pit :    Has dealing with the business side of music made any of you a little more careful or even jaded?

Morgan:      Of course! This is a crazy and difficult business to be in for anyone. It's always good when you know where your money is going, and who is handling your business. Anyone who is oblivious to those facts runs the risk of getting ripped off.

Metal Pit :      The song "Cut throat" I hear is going to be featured in the next "Saw" movie which I think is Awesome, how did
that all come about and when will the movie be out?

Morgan:       The track "Cut Throat" will actually be on the SAW VI soundtrack, which is being released through Trustkill Records, and I guess they were just interested in the song! The title and the subject matter just kind of fit well with the theme of the movie. I believe the movie and soundtrack comes out at the end of October!

Metal Pit :     Are any of you Horror movie fans and if so what are some of your favorites?

Morgan:       Of course! We love old horror movies. Although this would be a question better suited for Mercedes (her collection is huge) some of my favorites include Dead Alive, The Friday the 13th series, Don't go into the Woods, Fat Ethel 2, Terror on Tour, Halloween, Evil Dead 1&2, They Live, The Undertaker and his Pals, Night of the Living Dead, Day of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Return of the Living Dead 1&2.

Metal Pit :     Kittie has made several successful videos over the years, is that process something you enjoy or is it just a necessary evil of the business you have to endure?

Morgan:       Making videos is exciting and fun. Every opportunity we have had to make a video has been a welcome experience. I can't complain!

Metal Pit :    At least you didnt have to drown yourselves in the new "Cutthroat" vid like you did for "Into the Darkness", haha.

Morgan:       Yes, that was a little strange, but so much fun, and very different than anything we've experienced before.

Metal Pit :    Coming from Ontario Canada, how has the Metal scene changed there from the time when you started until now?

Morgan:     Well from what I can see Metal is alot more prevalent than when we started, but that is really a good thing I guess.. The more the merrier!

Metal Pit :   The editor of the Metal Pit is Canadian as well and he would kill me if I didnt ask you guys this question......are any of you Hockey fans?

Morgan:      I know Tara likes to watch hockey and frequents local OHL games in London, and I watch a bit of hockey also. I guess I am more of a fan by default, as my boyfriend is a big fan.

Metal Pit :   Kittie is currently on a new headlining tour which started on September 26th with the bands Soil,Arkaea and Straight Line Stitch, how long of a set will you be playing?

Morgan:     Our set usually consists of songs from all of our albums and is clocking in at around 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Metal Pit :    The tour wraps up on October 29th, what does the rest of 2009 and 2010 hold for the band as far as touring?

Morgan:     "In The Black" will be released in Europe on October 23rd through Massacre Records so We are hoping to be heading to Europe early next year, as well as hopefully venturing to Japan and Australia. After that we'd like to do some support slots and maybe some festivals.

Metal Pit :     On a personal note I am hoping to catch the band playing in Cleveland at Peabody's on October 25th.

Morgan:       Right on! We always have a good time at Peabody's...

Metal Pit :     Kittie seems to be a band that has taken full advantage of the internet to get the word out about their music. Mediums such as I-Tunes, Myspace and You-tube have changed the face of music forever and made alot of bands more accessible to fans, however some bands dont seem to take advantage of this and I have actually heard alot of complaints that bands make no money from selling their music on I-tunes. What is your opinion of this?

Morgan:       I say an album sale is an album sale and regardless it's getting our name out there...I have never really had any problem with not making any money off of I-tunes but others may have had different experiences.

Metal Pit :     The presence of women in the scene today is stronger than ever which I think is terrific and a long time coming, however do you think women are finally getting the respect they deserve as musicians as well?

Morgan:      This is a tough question. I think that because the presence of women in metal is increasing it is becoming much more excepted, but there are still hurdles and double standards. I think there is still alot of work to be done.

Metal Pit :     Do you think we will ever see the day when we wont have to hear bullshit statements like " Hey you play pretty good for a bunch of girls" and women will just be recognized as musicians and for their talent alone and not on how they look?

Morgan:       Unfortunatly I really don't see that day coming any time soon. I believe as long as the media portrays women in a certain light and belabors the differences between us instead of highlighting the similarities and achievements, there will really never be a day when being female isn't in some kind of focus.

Metal Pit :     I have talked to so many young women in bands that are just starting out who list Kittie as role models and want to follow in your footsteps, what advice would you give to them about this business?

Morgan:        PRACTICE! It is imperitive to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk too. And never let anyone tell you 'you can't' or 'you shouldn't'. Also be weary of people's motives and watch your back.

Metal Pit :      How are things going with the "Poison black" clothing line?

Morgan:       Things have been steady with PB for a while now, but we have unfortunetly had to but the clothing line on the back burner for the time being while we tour and promote the new album. However we hope to be able to focus our attentions on Poisoned Black again soon.

Metal Pit :    Where can fans buy the new cd and other merchandise from Kittie?

Morgan:      "In The Black" Is available at your local record store, Hot Topic, Best Buy, or online at The Omega Order, Amazon.com or iTunes. You can pick up gear at a show, or check out kittierocks.com or JSR Merchandise online for some other merch.

Metal Pit :     Is there anything you might want to say to the fans that we did not cover?

Morgan:      Thank you for all your continued support over the years. "In The Black" is our best album to date, so PICK IT UP NOW!

Metal Pit : On behalf of myself and the Metal Pit,we want to thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedule to talk with us today.I am so psyched about this new cd and tour and truly happy for all involved with the band.Hopefully I will see you all in Cleveland in a few weeks.


Horns up brothers and sisters.......

Nick Rohm.

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