First I would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
Not a problem.
How did you and your band mates start making music together?
The typical answer: Our old bands fell apart. It began with two determined individuals who were looking for an opening to escape their dissatisfaction with the tiresome routine of "everyday" life and their past musical ventures. Then we became three. Then five, and then three again. Finally, after arduous lineup changes, Nate and Cody fell into our laps and everything just clicked.
What inspired you to combine black metal and hardcore. Bands like Iskra, Martyrdöd and Young and In The Way have long made such a combination the center of their sound. How are you doing this differently? What was your motivation?
It was something that just sort of happened. It just felt right. I feel that our sound is a healthy blend of what our influences are rooted in, which is black metal and hardcore punk, but at the same time, we also try to step outside of the box and touch on everybody's individual influences to try and capture a more unique sound. We don't try to limit ourselves. We just want to be the band that we've always wanted to hear.
Black metal is a very elite community. How do you think black metal fans will view your music? How do you think hardcore fans will view the black metal elements in your music?
I feel that we've been well received by black metal and death metal fans, but we've certainly raised an eyebrow amongst the "hardcore" community.
What are your favorite things about the black metal sound?
The raw, natural, dark energy it creates.
Being from the Detroit area, what do you think of the local music scene? More importantly what do you think of the current state of local hardcore music?
Michigan's weird. The majority of bands playing "heavy music" in this area tend to sound uninspired, bland, and rather unimpressive. However, there is a growing amount of people scattered across the state that are doing pretty fantastic things, i.e. Discerned, Bearfoot (we're putting out a 10'' split with them this fall), Isenblast, Dredd, Against the Grain, Steamroller, Damages, Shades of Red, Wells, Cloud Rat, Time to Deal, Come Out Fighting, etc. The list goes on and on.
The hardcore scene in certain aspects has succombed to being more concerned with keeping itself divided rather than establishing an overall community, but I think it's safe to say that this will pass over time.
I saw on your page that you guys dig on Neurosis. I'm a huge fan of their music. Do you find yourself incorporating any elements of their sound into your music?
There's definitely a strong Neurosis influence on the newer material we've been writing. We wanted to experiment with a more atmospheric and sludgy sound than we have been on our past releases.
What current artists out there inspire you guys the most?
As a whole, I'd say everybody's influenced by Converge and Scandinavian metal/punk, but individually, we're kind of all over the spectrum. Nick (vocals) is really into NYHC and early 90's and early 2000's metalcore, stuff like Starkweather and Merauder. Nate (guitar) is a total black metal and death metal junkie. I'm (Chris, guitar) mostly influenced by black metal and d-beat/crust punk. Jeremy (bass) is a post-rock/post-metal enthusiast, and Cody (drums) is essentially a parallel to Nate, but he cites Metallica as being his biggest influence growing up.
Are there any words that you'd like to share with all of the young musicians out in the Michigan scene right now?
Not necessarily, but thank you for the opportunity to do this interview.
