Flotsam & Jetsam are the great survivors in the scene. They have just released their new "Unnatural Selection" album through Metal Blade. We contacted their bass player Jason Ward for a full update. He was not able to answer our many questions about their earlier years, so this is purely an update about the situation in Flotsam & Jetsam. We hope to bring a retro article about Flotsam & Jetsam later this year.



1. Please give us an insight in your new album "Unnatural Selection".

This album is very different. Of course being that there are two new members in the group, that added to a lot of change and we took a different approach to the writing process. It sounds different too. More of a loose, unpolished approach, it could go over well or people may want to use it as an ashtray. I like it. It's pretty angry.

2. Please tell us more about the lyrics on this album.

As with every album, A.K. and Eric braverman take care of that end of it. As always, all the lyrics are based on personal life experiences, either from first-hand knowledge or observations of others.

3. What has kept your band together for so long ? What has been the lowpoint and the best moment in the life of Flotsam & Jetsam ?

I have no idea what has kept this band going for so long. We are all very good friends though, past and present members included, and that helps out a lot. That's also how we came up with the title of the new record.
We should have been gone a long time ago through natural selection but we've survived by Unnatural selection.

4. Is there any plans of re-release of your earlier albums ?

Metal Blade has re-released Doomsday. Other than that, I don't know.

5. Flotsam & Jetsam has been around for 15 years. Please give us your opinion about today's Black and Death Metal scene. What is your opinion about the metal scene in general ?

To tell you the truth I don't really keep up with the scene. There isn't really much of a metal scene here in Phoenix anymore. I still go see our friends play, Sacred Reich and Sepul, live here too so it's easy to check them out.

6. I have always been curious about the meaning of the name Flotsam & Jetsam. Please tell us what it means.

Flotsam and Jetsam is the stuff that floats to the surface after a shipwreck…that's the dictionary's explanation anyway..

7. Is there any plans for a live CD or a compilation CD of your stuff ?

Actually we were talking about doing a live one next while we were recording this latest one, but I think everyone forgot about it….You just reminded me though. Thanks. I'll mention it again and see what happens.
If Metal Blade wants to pay for it, I'm Sure we'll do it.

8. What is your plans for 1999 ?

We are supposed to start the tour this summer. End of May perhaps. We just signed on with a new agency who handles the States, Europe, And South America. Some offers were laid out but nothing has confirmed yet.

9. Do you have any contact address and official website ?

Ye, we have this kick ass web-site run by Stephen Marshall(great guy).It has all our info,and is updated by us on a regular basis. And our e-mail address too.

The Web site

Our email is

flojet@hotmail.com

and you can check us out on the Metal Blade site.


And BUY THE NEW ALBUM "UNNATURAL SELECTION" BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY!!!!!!

Thanx a lot for your time.