Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

I(MuRphry) started Chain Code in 2022 as a way of expressing my enjoyment of the progressive rock and science fiction genres.  I am the only member of the band, although I am open to that changing in the future if some other weirdos want to come aboard. Synthetic Outcomes, out October 1st of this year(links below), is the debut album.  I worked on it, along with the second full length that will see the light of day in 2025, for about a year and a half before I started to concern myself with the art.  I didn’t even have a name for the project, but I knew it had to work with the lyrical themes of technology overcoming humanity.   While I feel there is much to dislike about Star Wars, I took the name from one of the more reputable ventures in the canon, The Clone Wars/Bad Batch/Mandalorian, because it represents a way of using technology to control and monitor citizens and a great deal of the lyrics on Synthetic Outcomes concern the disastrous conclusions reached through subjugation to technology. 

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

I wish I had some cool sci-fi answer to give you, about being born in the future and being sent back through time to eradicate machines that were erasing humanity, or being a man’s consciousness trapped inside a robot cop body, but I’m just a nerdy ass progressive rock fan who has called Milwaukee, Wisconsin home for the last 20 some years.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

When I started Chain Code, I started writing with the intention of crossing the career of incredibly underrated Adrian Belew(King Crimson, Solo, Talking Heads, Zappa, etc) with the odd metal stylings of Voivod(Nothingface onward in particular). However, during the writing process, I noticed there were other long-held influences of mine coming through.  I’ve always thought East Bay Ray of Dead Kennedys was a unique guitarist, and I definitely see moments of trying to emulate his style.  I’ve also always been a big Primus fan and noticed some of that influence creeping in, as well.  That being said, I’m a pretty big fan of music in general, so it’s always hard to say what exactly is rolling around in my brain.  I’m a big fan of both picking up an instrument and recording the first thing that comes out and meticulously planning songs.  I don’t argue with whatever process is working through me during any creative moment.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

I have played multiple instruments since early childhood and I cherish my creativity, but I have a career that is not related to music in the slightest. Music is both sacred and fun to me, but I’m not particularly concerned with whether or not people ‘get’ what I’m doing.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

This week I have listened to the following albums

The new Tony Levin single, Bringing It Down to the Bass

The new Jesus Lizard singles a bunch

Melvins-Houdini and Bad Moon Rising(also caught the Buzz/Dunn tour in Madison with JD of the Butthole Surfers opening and it was awesome)

Nile-The Underworld Awaits Us All

Random songs by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Al Hirt

Antipop by Primus

Toxicity by System of a Down

Bedtime for Democracy by Dead Kennedys

Paradise Lost-Medusa

Mudcrutch-I

Soundgarden-Down on the Upside

Jethro Tull-Benefit

StarGazer-Bound by Spells

Frank Zappa-Roxy and Elsewhere and Apostrophe(caught the Zappa Plays Zappa tour in Chicago last week and its as awesome)

and I’ve got Black Death Horizon by Obliteration and The White Death by Fleurety on deck.

Do you sing in the shower?

I feel comfortable singing in two places: 1. My home studio. 2. My home shower(much to my wife’s displeasure).   Despite the amount of singing I do in Chain Code, I don’t quite consider myself a singer. 

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

I would form a live lineup simply to play in the biker bar in Terminator 2.   However, I don’t see the possibility of being too faithful to the Chain Code albums in a live environment, as there are simply too many layers.  I’m not opposed to trying in the future, but right now my concern is just getting the albums out.

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

I have countless favourite albums.  Too many to choose from, as I listen to all kinds of metal, prog, rock, oldies, etc.  However, as it relates to progressive rock, and the influences of Chain Code,  I would say my favourites are

King Crimson(every album)

ELP-Brain Salad Surgery

Genesis-Selling England by the Pound

Mike Oldfield-Ommadawn

Yes-Close to the Edge

Voivod-Killing Technology or, as it relates specifically to Chain Code, Nothingface or The Outer Limits

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Nope.  I like what I like, no shame involved. Some of my more prog-minded friends find extreme metal to be too much, and some of my extreme metal friends can’t stand Kate Bush.  Whatever. 

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

King Crimson, with and without Adrian Belew

Voivod

Adrian Belew solo

Steve Hackett

Frank Zappa

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

I believe it was either something by Hendrix, possibly even a lame greatest hits or something, or a Sonic Youth CD.  However, I’d been buying cassettes for years before that so it’s hard to tell.  I think I bought Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty, as my guitar teacher at the time, was teaching my 8-year-old self some of the material.  

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Weirdos, put on some headphones, and jam Synthetic Outcomes.  The worst thing that could happen is that you hate it, and that’s ok.

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

https://chaincode.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/ChainCodeBand

Please like and follow CC on Facebook. 

We, at Metal Planet Media, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thank you for your time and exposure.  Cheers!

This interview is the property of Metal Planet Media