Much of "The Big Cats Will Throw Themselves Over," Bellmer Dolls’ debut release on Hungrey Eye Records, bears the emotional timbre of the "killer" section of the Doors’ "The End." The 6-song EP, produced by Bad Seeds drummer Jim Sclavunos, features brooding, sinister lyrics, half-spoken over syncopated bass and drum vamps, interspersed with manic, reverb-laden guitars attacking from somewhere in the distance. I spoke with Peter Mavrogeorgis (guitar and vocals) and Daniel Sheerin (drums).

What is the nature of your relationship with Jim Sclavunos?

P-It's strictly casual, though I must say we've been spending more time together than apart lately.

D- Jim has been really effective in producing us, particularly in working on material for the upcoming LP. He seems to understand our madness, while wisely remaining well above it. And I know having a drummer behind the boards is forcing me to play at my best. On most of the recordings I have done in the past, if the meter is solid, the engineer is satisfied with the drums. Here, I know if I am unfocused or playing predictably, I am immediately called out for being a lazy bore or settling for "high school garage band bullshit." It works.

Some of the press that you have received likens you to the Bad Seeds, the Birthday Party, and other post-punk acts. Are there recent bands with whom you feel musical kinship?

P- Yes. One young band I personally feel a kinship with musically is called Grinderman. Also, The Vanity Set, out of NYC.

D- In New York, I feel as though Woman are our partners in crime. On the West Coast, if muscled I would identify our co-conspirators as Lion Fever, The Holy Kiss, Get Hustle, and Magick Daggers.

What are your plans for a full-length?

P- We're stroking it for all it's worth. I think I saw the head peeking out last I checked... We're in the process of finishing our recording studio. Rock God Ric Ocasek was so kind as to make a gift of his beloved 24 track machine – actually, it was more like, "If you can get this thing out my basement and out of the lives of myself and my family, it's yours!"

D- When we were recording our EP, we were recording songs we had been playing live for a solid year. Recording this LP is exciting because most of the songs have been for our ears only thusfar and will not be finished until they hit tape. This is such a hot fucking feeling. I can't wait until this shit is so real, all anyone wants to do is commit loads of crimes.

You recently played some dates in the UK. How was that experience, and how do you feel your music is received there vs. in New York?

P- We had the singularly arduous pleasure of playing not one but 5 London gigs. We're a bit less polite in our delivery than the usual British fare. It worked to good effect.

D- I agree. The majority of British groups we played with meekishly shuffled around stage, while we play by either fighting or fucking our instruments. How was this received? If I tell you we were showered with ecstatic praise and endless sexual favors, are you going to fact-check that statement with the City of London? Let's compare notes on "Bellmermania."

What are some of the bands you have enjoyed sharing a bill with?

D- The Flesh rock the party that rocks the body, Blacklist arrives with a nudity-filled Satanic ritual in tote, Holy Hail wears short shorts in the wintertime, and Foreign Islands can outdrink us, but only because it's three against five. Also, we've enjoyed sharing many bills with Fresh Kills at both gigs and afterparties.

P- Never got to share a bill with The Devastations, though we saw them here, and they saw us there. There meaning Berlin. Who doesn't want to live there? Should The Deli consider expatriating as well?! We've taken Manhattan. Shouldn't we now, as the story goes, take Berlin?

www.bellmerdolls.com