PRO-PAIN

A cliche becomes a cliche because there is usually a kernel of truth to it. One such cliche is “tough times make for tough people”. Well, if that’s so…and I think we can all agree it is…then bands don’t come much tougher than PRO-PAIN and their guiding light, Mr. Gary Meskil.

PRO-PAIN has been dishing out its brutal band of hardcore metal since 1991. The roots go back even further, to the days of THE CRUMBSUCKERS and the birth of NYHC. They have been nothing but reliable and have stuck to their basic style since Day One, adding just enough creativity to stay fresh. They’re no strangers to Wormwood, as we have interviewed them before.

But it has been 11 long years since we last heard from Gary and the band and like many, I thought their end had come at last. So it was a happy surprise when I saw the band back in action in 2026 with a new album, “Stone Cold Anger”. The crazy times we live in in the States seem tailor made for the vitriol PRO-PAIN spews on this album.

It was a pleasure to connect with Gary once more to get the following interview…

WORMWOOD CHRONICLES:  Welcome back, PRO-PAIN! I must say your absence has been keenly felt the last eleven years. Was the band ever officially “done” during this time or was it just dormant?

GARY MESKIL: Thank you! The band has remained active since 1991 with the exception of 2020-2021 (the Covid years). We just hadn’t released a new album in 11 years and the reasons for that are many. For starters, I suffered some severe injuries (including a brain injury) in 2017. It took quite a long time to recover from all of the trauma. Aside from the above, I developed severe Dupuytrens Contracture of my left hand, which is crippling and makes playing guitar almost impossible. Although I am still able to play bass to a certain degree, I’ve always written my music on guitar. For the first time, I became dependent on having a writing partner and  collaborator. New material finally started to take shape shortly after Eric Klinger returned to the lineup.

WC: The new album is titled “Stone Cold Anger”. PRO-PAIN is a band that’s been pissed off since “Foul Taste of Freedom”. Was it strictly anger over the current state of things that brought you back in the fold?

GM: I have always viewed PRO-PAIN as a socio-political barometer of sorts.  When times become more bleak, dark and desperate, that’s when we shine the most.  We are a true product of our environment.

WC: Things weren’t that pleasant in the 90’s but seem unimaginably worse now that we have idiots firmly in control. Was this something that you could see coming or did the depth of the stupidity surprise you?

GM: There is no shortage of depraved lunatics in government, that’s for sure. Yes, the 90’s were a dream compared to today’s nightmare. So, it doesn’t take a tremendous amount of foresight to predict that things will continue to spiral downward in perpetuity. Our future seems scripted, and, oddly enough, we haven’t been able to break free from this matrix yet.

WC: It seems that the song “Jonestown Punch” refers to how easily people swallow anything these days. Is that pretty much the gist of it?

GM: Yes, that’s pretty much the gist. It’s a play on The Jonestown Massacre and Jim Jones, leader of The Peoples Temple. He mass murdered his followers in 1978 with cyanide laced Flavor Aid. That’s where the term “drinking the Kool-Aid” comes from. It basically means to accept someone’s ideas or suggestions willingly without asking questions.

WC: Is there hope to be found in “Stone Cold Anger”? In fact, is there hope anywhere today?

GM: There is always hope, yet sometimes, it seems that hope is all we have. Unfortunately, many have given up as a result of losing faith in the system. We (the people) comprise the overwhelming majority, yet large groups sometimes lack the power to organize and make themselves heard. That’s why small powerful groups with selfish and or evil intentions can rule over the masses so easily. It’s like David vs Goliath.

WC: This album saw the return of Eric Klinger to the band. How did this come about and was it a real step towards PRO-PAIN being back in action?

GM: Eric rejoined the band in the summer of 2024 after filling in for Matt Sheridan for a few shows on rhythm guitar.  He brought with him some long lost chemistry and became quite instrumental in the making of ‘Stone Cold Anger’ in which he recorded, co-produced, mastered, and wrote much of the music for.

WC: I think the song “Uncle Sam Wants You” might be the catchiest PRO-PAIN track ever, which is saying something. What’s the story behind this one?

GM: Thanks! Uncle Sam is symbolic of government and its power. So, I’ve always seen him as a villain. I suppose he is still a good mascot for US hegemony because we are such a menace on the world stage and I find his persona to be quite menacing. The song is basically about citing obvious truths and getting labeled a conspiracy theorist for simply pointing out the obvious. We have reached a point where truth telling can be quite dangerous depending on what and or who is being exposed. Julian Assange is perhaps the most famous example of this. In George Orwell’s book “1984”, it states: The Party told you to ignore the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.

WC:  Another song that’s a bit different and more upbeat is “Sky’s The Limit”. To me, it seems to end the album on a positive note. Was that the intention?

GM: It’s the only song on the album which I wrote entirely, and it was a very difficult and emotional process for me.  The song is a tribute to my nephew (Corey Meskil) who took his own life in 2024.  He was a kind soul and aspiring rapper who went by the name Meskilator.  My favorite Meskilator song was called “Snakebite”, and he had a tattoo across his chest which read “The Sky’s The Limit”.  All of those things inspired me to write the song, which is mainly about loss, grief and closure.

WC: When you guys got back together, did things click for you right away or did it take some time to knock the rust off, so to speak?

GM: After periods of hiatus, it can take a bit of time for everything to feel “right” again. So, we make sure to prepare accordingly.

WC:You are now on Napalm Records, which might be the fastest growing metal label out there. Were they the only choice for you or were other labels seriously in the hunt?

GM: I think they were a good fit for us because despite the fact that they have grown into a major player on the scene, they specialize in legacy bands who already have a sizable footprint within their own particular genres. So, we believe that Napalm Records was a wise choice for us even though we had some other interested parties.

WC: Would you say that the same things motivate you now that they did at the band’s beginning? Or has the focus shifted over the years?

GM: I’m driven by the same things which motivated me from the start: Music, creativity, passion, and the need for my life to have a broader purpose than just being and or existing. I’m not motivated by money or fame, which, in turn, makes me an admittedly terrible self promoter.

WC: What kind of touring plans do you have for “Stone Cold Anger”? I’d imagine you are chomping at the bit to get back on the road.

GM: Our tour begins in Essen, Germany on May 13th and we will continue to play club shows and festivals throughout the remainder of the year in support of ‘Stone Cold Anger’.

WC: What would you say is the most serious issue facing the world right now? Technology replacing the real world? Dirty money in politics? Environmental destruction? Or something completely different?

GM: The current wars and the risk of escalation. AI and worker replacement is also high on the list, as is corruption and lack of accountability in politics. Then there’s Agenda30, CBDC’s, future plandemics, cost of living and environmental issues (i.e. plastics, forever chemicals, etc.) Just to name a few.

WC: If you could have dinner with any 3 people from history, who would they be?

GM: Elvis, Nikola Tesla, Bill Murray

WC: Has PRO-PAIN ever had a Spinal Tap moment where things went out of whack that you could share with us?

GM: A funny one comes to mind. We had just finished playing our first gig in Paris in 1994 and after the last note of the last song, our drummer (Dan Richardson) threw a celebratory drum stick straight into the crowd. Two guys from our record label (Energy Records) were supposed to be at that gig but we hadn’t seen them all night, even though they were on the guest list. Then, after the crowd dispersed, we saw our two friends approaching, and one of them was applying a bag of ice to his face because Danny’s drum stick hit him right between the eyes while he was standing at the soundboard! Hey man, nice shot!

WC: Any last words for the faithful?

GM: Thank you all for the support and thanks for this interview! We hope you all enjoy ‘Stone Cold Anger’ as much as we do!

PRO-PAIN