MITB are one of the more popular "power violence" bands, not to mention extremely fucking weird (but nice) people. I did this interview by mail with Eric Wood in January of 1997. If you have ever written him, you know that it is a two-fold challenge: first deciphering his writing, then figuring out what the fuck he's trying to say! : ) As I said, MITB are very, very nice, and very, very strange.

There is a segment which believes that mankind, like any other animal, has a dharma, a way of life to which It Is suited and Intended for. What is your reaction? If you subscribe to this, what IS the, human dharma?
I'm only as "well read" as my own perceptions, so especially on this subject and it's principles and theories... I believe that mankind has a duty to make this "experiment of life / survival" be one of success in terms of being an equal participant not a desctructive - dominating one - one he / she has not fulfilled - only a microscopic portion of this so-calle d"mankind" (?) even "gets it" which could be (or could have been) pre-determined by a greater much more magnificent force - unfortunately for all other living elements the majority of our ever growing population does not. It is like we ("the destrustive breed") are in this non-hypthetical experiment where we ("mankind") are the rambunctious child child left alone in a candy store with money to be spent on food (or some other necessity) and we foolishly squander all of our money on sweets... I don't believe (at this point in time) that "mankind" as an entity was meant to peacefuly co-exist with the rest of the world - humans are legends in their own minds content with greed / deception. as usual, a small, minute group is trying to save us from self-destruction. We have to (on a mass level) learn without experiencing selfishness it the world is to continue. That is what I subscribe to.
In the same vein, "Human nature is " in your opinion. Elaborate, If you would. Do you attempt to work against what you feel Is your base nature?
would fill in the blank with "Counter productive." It barely needs to be elaborated on, but one example of this "counter production" is recycled waste products- glass, paper or especially aluminum, for example, takes more energy to recycle than to produce from scratch and it causes / contributes to an immense degree of "thermo-pollution" which this planet was not meant to withstand. I do (on my own level) attempt to go "against the grain" but it is only on an extremely small level of behavior. "Trying" at all is the key, you know?!?
Given a free 5"x5" space In the New York Times, what would you put in It?
I would donate it to "EartFirstl" and let them have free reign over what was to be printed - they are already established" and can / could say much more in that tight space to be beneficial to our consciousness than I could as an
individual...
In a more mundane vein, although I realize It Is old, I wonder If you could elaborate on "HSMP"?
"HSMP" (Hispanic Small Man Power), which was written/ arranged by Kenyon. It came after our very first show in 1991 when violence reared its ugly head (during, I beleive, Capitalist Casualties' or our set). Things were getting out of hand, alcohol was being thrown, outsiders (poeple in the club not there for the music) yelling to "Shut the fuck up" while under the influence of fucking booze and all other assorted goodies... All of a sudden (in the storm's eye of chaos / madness), a small, little hispanic man in a gold vinyl or leather sportcoat and dark pressed slacks with dress loafers is making his way to the front of the stage. When he reaches the stage, he somehow manages to get ahold of a microphone (did Kenyon or one of Capitalist Casualties hand him the microphone he obtained? It's all a blur- now a mike still got into the powerful little man's hand!l) In broken English he got the attention of the crowd and pleaded for everyone to recognize that we are not all that different and to lay down our guards of defense and try to have a good time. Somehow, it got through and applause to the Mighty HSM followed... The show continued till the end... Someone from another origin I community brought all together in the early West Coast power violence community- the HSM is a fucking great unknown hero.
What moods / emotions do you experience most frequently and in what ways do you act upon
them?
Lack of satisfaction (although most dear to me say it's bullshit) / Stress / Chronic fatigue syndrome. I let "the enemy" win the war much too often by allowing the above points / conditions assume positions f priority and as a result weaken me. I don't blame postal workers with an 'automatic weapons fetish" either. the mechanics of society are extremely "learning defficient."
What would you most like to change about yourself? Conversly, what characteristic do you value most that you already have?
My impatient, never satisfied daily feeling. Persistence with my interest levels to sound and life in general... Listening more is far more beneficial than offering repetetive complaints- "they" live-"they" do not want us to listen it's that simple.
Please tell me a few bands / people who you think deserve your respect / recognition.
Marc /Theologian (for waiting so long for us to record); Chris / Pessimiser (same fuckin thing!!); Shawn / Carol Kelly of Houston, Texas (incredible humans); Masami Akita - Merzbow; Release Ent. (Merzbow I BN split LP / disc); King Of Monsters Records (Locust / BN split )