Tiger Flowers are an exciting new hardcore band that has emerged from New York City’s slowly but surely developing new loud rock scene. But instead of the standard tough-guy mosh music New York is sometimes known for, these guys play around with odd time signatures and noise. They are still plenty pissed, but they fall more on the side of the Rorschachs and Deadguys of the world, rather than with the Agnostic Fronts and Cro-Mags.

Tiger Flowers have already released one well-received EP on The Path Less Traveled Records, and are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their debut full-length, which, judging from what we’ve heard so far, is sure to be killer.

We contacted lead vocalist Jesse James Madre and guitarist Dean Landry with a bunch of questions touching on their new record, lyrical inspiration, and their place in the New York hardcore scene, among other subjects. Here’s what they had to say.

You are currently in the studio, working on your debut LP. How is the new record shaping up? What are the similarities and differences between this and your debut EP?

Dean Landry: It’s shaping up well. It’s similar because it’s the same four guys that are on the EP, but it’s a completely different approach to writing than the EP. It’s definitely more cohesive as a whole. The songs are a lot shorter. One of the songs on our EP was almost nine minutes long!

Jesse James Madre: I think this nine-song effort clocks in around the same length as our four-song EP, so it has that similarity. (laughter) But, other than that, it’s a new machine with the same parts. Like Deano said, we went into the studio looking to make an album — something that flowed a little better. It’s us still, whatever we are, just a devolved evolution of us.

In recent press, you said that the new songs have a more “rock ‘n roll” feeling to them. What brought about this new attitude? How does it fit into the band’s modus operandi?

Dean: Rock ‘n roll in the sense that it might not be as technical as the EP, but it’s definitely still us. You’re not getting a Meatloaf record.

Jesse: I think the rock ‘n roll feeling to them comes from us stripping the songs down to the bones and letting them build on their own. Short, hard-hitting songs that still have that sad sense of urgency that I think sums up Tiger Flowers very well.

How does this new attitude affect the songs? In what direction are you going with them? Judging from the first song you debuted, “Cruisin’ ‘Til The Wheels Fall Off,” it sounds like the songs are going to be shorter.

Dean: Definitely shorter, for the most part. We did try to create more continuity with the songs so that they all fit together well. We wanted the album to feel and sound like it all belongs together as a whole.

Jesse: I really feel this was just the natural direction for us. We are a live band, and we just wanted that to come through more. We wanted to make a record front to back without compromise. I don’t think this record will make us unrecognizable from the EP at all — the tone of the record is the same as a whole, just on this one we let it be what it wanted to be more. And what it wanted to be was guts and teeth.

Where do you draw inspiration for your lyrics?

Jesse: Just the life I’ve been handed, for the most part. One I wouldn’t trade because it brought me to [my band mates]. Obviously, “Cruisin'” was inspired by Rambo but its not really about Rambo. It’s about the pain of losing everything and being told you’re winning. Getting pissed on and told it’s rain. With this album I was able to take life experiences and turn them into stories, in hopes that the listener can relate a little more. It’s not a “me” album — it’s an “us.” Not just Tiger Flowers, but “us” as in anyone who’s disappointed, had their heart broken, been let down and beat down. The EP lyrics all had a bit of hope to them. I pulled out the happy endings on this one.

What is the New York City hardcore scene like these days, and how does the band fit into its current landscape — if at all?

Dean: There’s a lot of good heavy music going on in the city these days. There aren’t as many places to play, but places like St. Vitus and Acheron hold it down. I don’t know that we fit in at all, but we have a lot of great friends in the heavy music scene — and as long as they’ll have us, we’re happy to play.

Jesse: Recently, I think our friend Fred said it best when he referred to us as “the hardcore oddity that is Tiger Flowers.” We’ve toured with all types of bands, and we always are going to be a little weird to some people. We’re fucking weird. Dean’s time signatures are just a touch scary, while still having a sad groove to them. What Willy [Gomez, bass] and Dan [Miccio, drums] put down over and under them brings it all together.

And then there is me. Overall, I don’t think we’re concerned with being able to be labeled. We just want to make noise and if people dig it, awesome. We’re happy to be able to have created and done what we have done so far. We’ve played some good shows and tours and made some good friends along the way.

You are known for being an intense live act. What does performing live mean to you? On the flip side, what do you get out of the creative side of the process, in regards to writing and recording music?

Dean: Playing live means the world to us. I guess we have a lot to get off our chest, and playing live is how we exorcise our demons. We play like every show could be our last, and try to live every day on this earth like it could also be our last. The writing process and all things to do with creating, recording, and playing live means everything to us. We’ve been lucky enough to make great friends, play fun shows, travel around, and explore the road with our best friends.

Jesse: I always tell people, just come and see us, [because] live is where we shine. We push each other to go harder every night. We want to engage you. I personally try to play the role of Jekyll and Hyde. I’m a friendly dude, I like to joke around in between songs, but once Dean lets that Gibson start to feedback there’s nothing funny left in the world. Until my next dick joke.

Once the new record is done and released, what are the future plans for the band? Is there touring in the immediate future?

Jesse: The record is nearly done and we’re talking to labels. In the meantime we’ll be hitting the road with our friends in Johnny Booth for a few weeks of some East Coast and Midwest shows. Finishing it off with our coming home show with all our friends, Meek Is Murder and Hivesmasher. After that, wherever the wind takes us next. We never really have a plan — it’s more exciting to just roll the dice.