1. How did the band get started? How did you meet and how long have you been together?

Johann Porcher: We started in 1994, we mainly met at school, we were 14,15 years old and all interested by violent music. So naturally we gathered and started to rock together in a rehearsal room. We played covers of artists such as Metallica, Sepultura or Fear Factory. Kaizen is going to pass its first decade soon and the human links between us are stronger than all.

2. How would you describe your music?

Johann Porcher: I would say that our music is a violent mix of the best of death metal, with the aggressivity of thrash and the hardcore attitude. Our main influences comes from Fear Factory, Meshuggah, Sepultura or bands in this vein. We like to say we play Power mammoth metal ;o).

3. What influence do you think your band has in music and metal today?

Johann Porcher: I don’t know if we have any influence in music. Sure, we begin to be recognized in our own country, France, but we don’t pretend to have a real influence on the others. We are neither followers nor leaders.

4. What made you want to be in the band? And if you weren't in the band what would you be doing now?

Johann Porcher: We wanted at that time to have fun and play live music. We want to share our energy with other people to feel alive and music is a kind of exutory for all the black things we have in our mind. It’s a way to find peace in the soul.

5. Are any band members in side projects? If so what are they, and explain a little about them.

Johann Porcher: Yes, Luc and Kara (bassist and drummer) plays in a hardcore-like band named Hidden Corp and Seb (guitarist) plays with Booda (mainly inspired by Tool, with a member of the French glory SCARVE, project on hold at the moment). The first one is recording a demo now. It’s a good way for them to enhance their technical skills and play some different music styles. They definitely have fun but Kaizen remain their priority.

6. How would you feel if a band took their sound from yours and became very well known?

Johann Porcher: I won’t be happy and I’ll claim to the world they stole something very personal to me.

7. What current bands do you like or respect?

Johann Porcher: I like Meshuggah, Nostromo, Gojira, Total Devastation and there are tons of others, you know !

8. How many demos/albums do you have? Tell me about them!!

Johann Porcher: We recorded two demos before we got signed, the material of these confidential promotionnal CDs owes us to get what we wanted: a record deal. The songs of this demo have been recorded again and are in a totally renewed shape on “Clear the path” (released in late May). These songs were good and we think they deserved to be immortalized on widely-spread album. The two demos were “Leadersheep” and “Supporting Continual Improvement” and got a really decent feedback over the world..

9. What demo/album do you like the best?

Johann Porcher: Well, I prefer the new album, it’s the best thing we ever done in our life !

10. What is the meaning behind the songs?

Johann Porcher: The major theme of the album is about being aware and stay critical about the world around us. About the politician manipulation and the power of mediatization as a tool of control.

11. What are the bands favorite songs?

Johann Porcher: Mine is Cathodictate on the last album, because it rocks.

12. What does the future hold for the band?

Johann Porcher: We are going to compose for the second album in our mini recording studio and we hope to go on the road soon to defend and promote “Clear the Path”.

13. If you could play with any band who would it be and why?

Johann Porcher: I would play in Metallica to kick their ass and get them back to puppets thrash metal.

14. Who writes the majority of the music?

Johann Porcher: All the band is involved in the composition process. But the music often comes from a guitar riff or a drum rhythm.

15. Who has been the favorite band you've played with and why?

Johann Porcher: Meshuggah, because it was like a dream, it was one of our favorite band at this time, and they were playing at 1 miles from my house in a big theater where no metal shows has ever been organized before. It was really cool and we have a lot to learn from them. We had fun with them after the show. We also enjoyed playing with Nostromo because they are crazy and with Gojira because their music is 100% killer.

16. Where did you get the band name from?

Johann Porcher: From a Economics Book, it’s coming from japanese and it means supporting continual improvement.

17. Describe what the band is like live?

Johann Porcher: We are crazy with hairs whirling in the air, screaming our guts out with the sound of a supersonic jet. It’s a real war on stage and into the pit. A must-see.

18. If you are gonna do any kind of video what would be in it?

Johann Porcher: We want to shoot a video for a song pretty soon, and i don’t really know what will be in except the band playing live or in front of a green screen.

19. Are there any touring plans made; if so tell me about them?

Johann Porcher: We have a couple of dates here in France and we hope to make a small tour in Switzerland.

20. Where do you think the band will be 20 years from now?

Johann Porcher: Six feet under ;o). Well we’ll see