Sometimes a little change goes a long way and in the case of Extinction A.D. a little change is what it took to graduate from their hardcore band, This Is Hell, to a new, full-blown metal beast. Taking cues from powerhouse ‘80s era thrash and metal juggernauts, their LP Faithkiller is a devastating debut that punches the genre into the 21^st century. Recorded and mixed by Brett Romnes (I Am the Avalanche), and mastered by Brad Boatright (Nails, Noisem), Faithkiller hit the streets via Good Fight Music on August 21.
Having spent the Summer introducing their ferocious LP, and the messages contained therein – “Trust no one!” — on a tour with Hawthorne Heights and Sleepwave, Extinction A.D. is chomping at the bit for the records release and anxious to return to the road.
While the band was at home, Ghettoblaster caught up with vocalist guitarist Rick Jimenez to talk about Atomic Comics, Candies Magic Pub, Monostereo and other features of his Stomping Grounds, Mastic, New York.
What’s your town’s nickname?

Not sure it really has one. Maybe “Oh… you live THERE?” town.
What’s your nickname for your town?
Thrashtic. Mastyk.
Why do you live there?
Playing in bands has bankrupted my life.
Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?
No, but I wound up there by creating a situation that would allow me to continue making music and touring.
What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?
Depends on your definition of weird. Returning from an Australia/South East Asia tour and seeing two drug deals on the one mile stretch of Main St at 10am, bench pressing 285 lbs in the living room, being attacked by flying ants, having two boxes filled with 15 years of wrestling magazines go missing, or maybe not getting robbed.
What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?
I’m not sure there are any parks in Mastic. Atomic Comics is pretty cool though.
What is your favorite local event or festival?
We don’t even get parades there, man.
What is the best time of year to be there?
The summer. The freaks are completely unleashed and without the snow you can really take in the dichotomy of foreclosures and $500k houses on the same street.
Who is your favorite local celebrity?
Bill Ryan.
Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
I’d go with 7-11 cause they have 2 for $5 Redbull and 2 for $4 Monster.
Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?
T$S House East. All the metal one can ask for. Everything that rules and nothing that sucks.
Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?
The only place in the general vicinity that does live music is Candies Magic Pub which is this tiny dump with no stage, sound, PA etc but being that its near Mastic, the people are essentially clueless and occasionally allow filthy metal heads and punks to take over and make noise so long as the drinks are flowing.
Last time I played there some meth mouthed DJ unplugged my guitar rig by tripping over it during the first song cause he felt it necessary to go back and forth behind the DJ booth over and over, so I put my guitar down to plug it back in and annihilated his gear in the process mid temper tantrum… He didn’t notice during or after the show anything had happened. It alleviated my guilt.
Does where you live influence your music?
Yeah for sure. You see a lot of the good the bad and the ugly in an area like this. Opens your eyes even wider than the open eyes of someone that inherently pays attention to life.
What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?
Well like I said Candies is the only place really to see live music around there… not sure if I’ve ever actually enjoyed being there though. The first Halloween show there a few years ago was a bit of fun. Think it was the first time I dressed like Doyle from The Misfits while doing a cover set with one of my other bands American Ice Age.
What is your favorite local band?
Mastyk. Tension*.
What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?
Three egg whites, turkey and cheese on a whole wheat bagel at Strathmore Bagels is key.
What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
Monostereo. It’s kind of like a wholesale spot but not entirely. Found a Metallica “Harvester of Sorrow” 12-inch there.
What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?
Not sure any of those exist… if so I have no idea.
What is your favorite local shop?
Ice Cream Cottage. This little shop that looks like it’s been there forever. Have a flavor called Bart Simpson. It’s just a Butterfinger, but anything named Bart Simpson is cool in my book.
If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
Phoenix, Arizona. I want to workout with Brandon Whipple every day while it never rains and no one’s trying to steal my car.
(Visit Extinction A.D. here: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinctionAD.)