Imbrogilo/The Struggle In Pursuit/The Path Less Traveled Records/2014 EP Review

   Imbrogilo  are  a  band  from  Ohio  that  plays  a  mixture  of  hardcore,  doom,  sludge,  experimental  and  grind  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  ep  "The  Struggle  In  Pursuit"  which will  be  released  by  The  Path  Less  Traveled  Records.

  The  ep  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy  and  aggressive  hardcore  sound  along  with  some  growling  vocals  and  screams  as  well  as  some  experimental  metal  sounds  which  also  bring  in  some  melody  and  blast  beats.

  When  we  get  more  into  the  ep  you  can  hear  more  post  hardcore/metal  elements  being  mixed  in  while  the  music  remains  heavy  along  with  a  great  amount  of  slow  and  crushing  doom/sludge  metal  parts  and  you  can  hear  a  small  amount  of  grindcore  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  music  gets  more  atmospheric  when  synths  are  added in  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  some  melodic  background  vocals  which  do  not  take  away  from  the  heavier  moments  of  the  music.

  Imbrogilo  bring  an  interesting  sound  to  their  recording  with  their  music  mixing  the  darkest  style  of  hardcore  with  doom  and  sludge  along  with  the  melody  of  post  metal  and  experimental  rock  and  the  production  is  very  professional  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  dominating  the  recording  as  well  as  some  lyrics  covering  the  struggle  in  the  pursuit  of  happiness.

  In  my  opinion  Imbrogilo  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  sludge,  doom  metal,  hardcore  and  experimental  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Full  Speed"  and  "Desolation".  8  out  of  10.

  

Diabulus In Musica Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
We have been focused on the promotion and rehearsals of the new songs.

2.You have a new album coming out in April, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction of the new recording and also how does it differ from your previous albums?
The musical direction is very varied. Our main elements are, as always, metal and classical music, but there are also some folk, ambient, electronic and Early Music reminiscences. You will find from very harsh and heavy songs with powerful metal riffs to very mystic and atmospheric ones. Of course, everything “seasoned” by a bombastic orchestra and big choirs.
I would say that our music is more mature now. Our first album “Secrets” was made of the first songs we had written, but it was the very first time we recorded with a choir and orchestral elements and we were still “finding” ourselves. We worked very hard and we learnt many things that we had the chance to develop later on our 2nd album, “The Wanderer”. For that album we introduced new sounds and we changed our way of working. We first thought about a story and decided to create a concept album, so we had a very clear idea about what we wanted to achieve and the kind of songs we wanted to write. Everything was planned and I think it worked pretty cool. On the other hand, our latest album “Argia” is much more “honest”, it is the most personal album so far and it directly comes from personal experiences Gorka and me lived these two last years. I think the real essence of Diabulus in Musica is now more present than ever. Musically wise the eclecticism and contrasts that define our music are even more evident.

3.The band has been around since 2006 and so far has released a demo, and 3 albums and has been on 2 big labels for the metal genre, do you feel you have accomplished a lot with your music over the years?
We have always lived the moment and you sometimes have to stop and look back to realize all that you have accomplished. We are very proud of our achievements because we could have never imagined that we would be able to do all this some years ago and we have always worked very hard to do our best. On the one hand, we have been lucky because we entered the international scene at a time it was not easy at all. On the other hand, this fact has also played against us, as each day the crisis in the music business is getting bigger and it is difficult to find new chances. Unfortunately, an economical support is necessary to keep growing and nowadays it's very difficult to get it.

4.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
Argia is not exactly a concept album as “The Wanderer” was, because it doesn't tell a story, nevertheless, all the lyrics are somehow connected to personal experiences and ideas. Some of the lyrics refer to our new situation as a band, some others are more critical and the rest are much more personal and are directly related to some of my spiritual believes. In conclusion, I would say that all of them are related to the word “Argia” (light/clear) referring to the new and lighter path we found as a band and as individuals. If there is something I hate is fake people and unfortunately we have found some lately. We are transparent and our way is clear now. I could talk about some of the lyrics, but on the other hand I also prefer that each one tries to explain them under his/her point of view and personal experiences. I think it's beautiful when you can identify or relate yourself to a lyric you are reading. Writing these songs was therapeutic for me, but I would be happy if they can accomplish the same function in others.
Regarding our progress, musically I see a clear difference from the beginning. We have always done everything by ourselves, I mean, we have never had any “arranger/producer” so we learnt a lot from our first album to the last one. Regarding the lyrics, the topics have always been related to my personal believes and experiences, but I suppose there has been an evolution too, since I'm older than before! ;)

5.Out of all the tours and shows the band has done over the years which one did you enjoy doing the most?
Every show is special, but I have very good memories from our show in Mexico city. The audience was so warm! I remember they started to shout a lot when we went on stage and I thought that something really bad was happening! But it was just the way they enjoyed the show :) Also MFVF. We have been lucky to play there more than once and we will come back again this year. We always share many great moments with fans, organizers, stuff and other bands. There is a very special atmosphere and a very direct contact with the audience and that's lovely!

6.For those that have yet to see you live, how would you describe your stage performance?
We always try to do something extra than just playing, because music is also a way of communicate.  Although we would love to accomplish everything we have in mind, that's really difficult because we can rarely count with the necessary means, mainly due to a lack of money and technical resources. Anyway, when we can we try to do a complete show, no just a concert. When we have had the chance, we have even taken the choir with us and represented some scenes of the songs in a theatrical way. Our dream will be to one day have the chance to play with the orchestra, full choir, dancers... to better represent the stories behind each song. Anyway, even if this is not always possible, you will find passionate musicians of stage that like to share their music and feelings with the audience. We specially enjoy the magic atmosphere of live shows, as you can feel the special connection with the audience so well!

7.So far the band has done albums for both Metal Blade and Napalm Records, do you feel that both of these labels have done a lot of help for your band when it comes to getting your music out there heard?
Of course! Having a record deal nowadays it’s not easy at all, so we are very grateful for the chances both Metal Blade and Napalm Records have given us and in the case of Napalm it’s still does with the release of our 3rd album. They relied on us from the very beginning and we have been able to release three albums worldwide thanks to them. On the other hand, we are aware that the music industry is not as it used to be some decades ago and labels don’t have the same budget than before, so their role has changed a bit too and this also affects the bands.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of symphonic and gothic metal?
It is being amazing! We have received many interviews and reviews from everywhere and all of them are being awesome for the moment!  Most of them agree that “Argia” is our best and most mature album so far. Fans will still have to wait until the second week of April when the album will be officially released, but I’m sure they won’t be disappointed. We are very happy with the new album and the first reactions!

9.According to the metal archives page, some of the band members are also involved with other musical projects, can you tell us a little bit more about them?
Gorka and me are now focused on Diabulus in Musica although I have also taken part in other projects as a collaborator last year. Last one was called “Stardust Reverie” and it features singers such as Graham Bonnet, Zack Stevens or Lynn Meredith. I'm also involved in some classical projects, but my priority right now is my band.
Our drummer David Carrica is also drummer of the Spanish well known heavy metal band Tierra Santa and Alexey, our guitar player, is the founder, singer and guitarist of a death metal band called Allowance.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
I don't have a clue because you never know where inspiration is going to take you. You can think about a direction and then when you start to compose, something very different takes shape. I like that it is that way, because it flows naturally, it is the magic of art ;) Besides, we have always been very opened to different influences and styles, we have never wanted to create any boundaries when writing music, so who know what will be next? Our music has always been eclectic and I think that each time the range is wider and with more elements. I'm pretty sure we will keep on the same way of mixing harsh metal riffs with orchestras and big choirs as these are our two most important elements, but atmospheric sounds are also very important in our music, so I suppose contrasts will keep on being even more evident in the future!

11.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Our music is very eclectic and always opened to new influences. This is the result of our different music backgrounds. Gorka and me come from the classical field apart from having been playing in metal bands since we were teenagers. In my case, I love music as long as it is well done or transmits me particular emotions. Among my preferences are  classical, neo-classical, Early music, fantasy/new age, soundtracks, World music, folk stuff... and a bit of metal too ;)

12.What are some of your non musical interests?
Fortunately, I find pleasure in every small daily thing. I'm crazy about Nature and love to spend hours walking in the forest or climbing high mountains with my dogs. I also make Natural soap, I like cooking (and much more eating!), I love reading and going to the cinema, travelling, I love History and specially ancient cultures, philosophy... Although unfortunately I don't always have the time to enjoy all this, as music and job take most of my time...

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks a lot for the interest and support and thanks to the readers too for taking the time to read this interview! We are looking forward to present the new songs live and to meet you all somewhere on the road! Love, Zuberoa

Terra Tenebrosa Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

We are currently rehearsing for the upcoming european tour and also laying down tracks for the next album. We have recorded three songs so far.


2.You have a new album coming out in April, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction of the new recording and also how does it differ  from your previous releases and the stuff you have done with Breach?

Actually it is just an EP containing leftovers from both the tunnels and the purging. The track from the tunnels sessions have appeared on a compilation album a couple of years ago but we thought it too good to not be properly released. The track from the purging sessions is a 18 min long track that we just couldn´t fit in on the purging and we didn´t want to throw it away. We wanted to start off the new album with a clean slate.

3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?

The same as always. The exploration of the dark territories within, those obscured and supressed parts of the psyche where one can find both ugly things and treasures to be dragged out into the light. That has been the main subject on both releases and also for the band as a whole. Our masks being symbols for archetypes rising out of the unconscious.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Terra Tenebrosa'?

I found the name in a book, cant recall which one though, might have been from dantes inferno or maybe a book on dr faustus. It was on a map of hell anyway. I like the ring of it and also for me denotes the dark worlds within.


5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We had a really great time when we opened up for Neurosis on a few dates last year but then we couldn´t really do the ”show” we wanted to do. We were headlining a minifestival in stockholm recently and I think that was our best performance yet. Live we have to focus more on the faster songs and leave out the more monotonous ones. There is so much going on on the album with all the samples and stuff so we have to distill it down to the essentials. Its easier with the more straightforward songs.

6.DO you have any touring or show plans for the future?

We are going on a two week tour with the old wind. A band featuring other members from breach.

7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer music by fans of metal and other forms of underground music?

Overall I think the feedback has been good. I didn´t expect this kind of attention when starting out. Those who appreciate it really appreciate it and those who dont at least gives us credit for doing something different I think.

8.The new recording is coming out on Apocaplexy Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
Its a vinyl only label. Co-released the tunnels and the purging with trust no one recordings. Dont know what to say. Run by a really nice guy.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
The new material is a bit more violent, focusing more on intensity than the trance inducing stuff we have been experimenting with. We are experimenting more with different tunings and different instruments. But tomorrow I might want to take things in a different direction. It is how its been with the other albums. We never really know what the end result will be until we are chosing what material goes on the album.

10.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

          As for influences I have to say everything we´ve ever listened to. We never set out to sound like a specific band. Of course one might find traces of sludge and black metal and whatever but we never set out to play a certain style. We listen to everything from jazz to bm. When I write material for TT I try to translate certain emotions and thoughts into music, often dark emotions. Also a big inspiration is the drama you get in classical music.
I listen a lot to God seed right now. And I cant wait for Lord Mantis to release their new album.

11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

I guess the main theme in our music, the exploration of the psyche and the soul is somewhat occult. Personally I´m interested in the occult. I read a lot about different magickal traditions. To some extent I practice what you could call shamanism. I´m into exploring the soul in different ways, be it by fasting, meditating or other means. And that rubs off on TT.

12.Outside of music what are some of your interests?

I´m pretty busy all the time working full time, raising a son and keeping this project alive but when I do have spare time I meditate, read, and I try to be out in nature as much as I can. I have a cabin in the archipelago I try to go to whenever I can.

13.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Thank you.

Delian/The Human Contradiction/Napalm Records/2014 CD Review

 

   Delian  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "The  Human  Contradiction"  which  was  released  by  Napalm  Records.

  The  album  starts  out  with  melodic  females  and  keyboards  and  a  few  seconds  later  the  music  goes into  a  more  heavy  modern  day  gothic  metal  direction  along  with  some  symphonic  elements  and  melody  in  the  guitar  riffing.

  When  the  album  goes  into  other  songs  the  music  really  starts  going  for  a  symphonic  approach  to  gothic  metal  as  well  as  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  male  and  female  vocals  as  well  as  having back  up  vocals  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  after  awhile  solos  and  leads  become  a  part  of  the  album  and  on  couple  of  the  tracks  black  and  death  metal  vocals  are  added  into  the  music.

  Delian  are  another  band  that  mixes  the  symphonic  side  of  metal  with  gothic  pop  while  also  having  a  small  amount  of  death  and  black  metal  influences  and  the  music  is  very  melodic,  pop  and  melancholic  sounding.

  Song  lyrics  cover  dark,  depressive  and  poetic  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Delian  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic,  gothic  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Here  Come  The  Vultures"  "My  Masquerade"  "Army  Of  Dolls"  and  "The  Tragedy  of  The  Commons".  8  out  of  10.

Diabulus In Musica/Argia/Napalm Records 2014 CD Review

  Diabulus  In  Musica  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  plays  a  very  smphonic  form  of  gothic  metal  with  elements  of  power,  doom,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Argia"  which  was  released  by  Napalm  Records.

  The  album  starts  out  with  a  dark  sound  along  with  melodic  female  vocals  which  have  an  esoteric  feeling to  them  and  after  awhile  folk  instruments  and  choirs  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  after  the  intro  the  music  goes  into  a  more  fast,  heavy  and  melodic  death  metal  direction  in  the  guitars  while  the  other  parts  go  for  more  of  a  symphonic  sound.

  When  we  get  more  into  the  album  there  is  a  mixture  of  clean  singing  and  growls  as  well  as  a  great  amount  of  gothic  elements  done  in  a  more  modern  day  sound  and  in  certain  parts  male  vocals,  leads  and  solos  are  added  into  the  music  along  with  small  amounts  of  spoken  word  parts  being  utilized  at  times  and  after  awhile  acoustic  guitars  become  a  part  of  the  recording  and  in  some  of  the  tracks  you  can  also  hear  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  being  utilized.

  Diabulus  stick  to  mostly  a  symphonic  form  of  gothic  metal  throughout  the  recording  while  also  bringing  in  elements  of  melodic  death  and  black  metal  in  the  heavier  sections  of  the  recording  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.

  Song  lyrics  cover  darkness,  metaphysical  and  mythology  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  wher e you  can  hear  all  of  the  musicla  instruments  that  are  present  on t his  recording  along  with  some  of  the  songs  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Diabulus  In  Musica  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic,  gothic  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album>  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "From  The  Embers"  "Spoilt  Vampire"  "Encounter  At  Chronos  Maze"  and  "Indigo".  8  out  of  10.

Scepter Of Eligos Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
1. Scepter of Eligos formed in the late summer of 2011, we recorded the demo in the last few days of December 2012 and have been playing shows mostly around the Denver area. We’ve shared the stage with bands such as Nightbringer, Satan’s Host, Velnias, and Whilt. We are currently writing new material and working on playing great shows with great bands.

2.How would you describe your musical sound?
2. We’ve been called everything from Death Metal, to Stoner Doom, to Blackened Crust. I wouldn’t say any of those 3 are spot on, but they all do represent different aspects of our music. Sludge and Death Metal are the main elements at play, and to a lesser extent Crust, Black Metal, and Doom all with some Psychedelic hints when it is appropriate.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
3. The lyrics are mostly about H.P. Lovecraft and occult themes. There is also some stuff about astral projections/out of body experiences.

4.I know that the band name comes from the Goetia, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the Occult?
4. I’ve always found the Occult to be an interesting subject; while I don’t exactly buy into the supernatural aspects of it I identify with a lot of the philosophical ideas. 

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
5. When we played with Satan’s Host and Vacant Throne it was at a bigger mid-sized venue, which is still the largest venue we’ve played by a long shot; there were lots of lights going and it was pretty fun. On the other side of the coin, we played with Whilt and Rhogog was in a small dive bar, and pretty much an “anything goes” environment which is always fun. The crowd at that show was really great too. I’d say “cathartic” is a good way to describe our shows, at least from my perspective; it’s a good way to let out the negative energy all at once.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the shows you have scheduled for the future and also are there any plans to do any shows outside of Colorado?
6. We have a show March 23rd with Saus (from CO Springs) and some yet to be announced bands. There is also a killer show planned for July, but unfortunately that’s all I can say at the moment. As far as playing outside of Colorado, its definitely in our plans.

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
7. There has actually been no label interest yet, however we’ve mostly been focusing on shows and just getting our name out there to more people. We’re definitely open to working with a label. But I think for where we are now we’re doing fine without one.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge and doom metal?
8. Most of the feedback we hear on our music has been pretty good, it seems that most people seem to view us as a sludge/doom band but everyone seems to appreciate the way we bring some faster tempo stuff into the mix. 

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
9. You can expect to hear us honing our sound into something meaner, heavier, and more cohesive. We all really like the direction the band is headed in and we want to continue that, yet still be cautious and keep it from sounding monotonous.

10.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

10. I think everything you listen to influences your music to a certain extent. But there are definitely some things that influence Scepter’s sound more than others. For me personally my biggest inspirations for the band are probably Buzzoven, EyeHateGod, Entombed, Nunslaughter, DOOM, Nausea, Sleep, and Electric Wizard

For my listening habits there’s some stuff that doesn’t ever leave the rotation (see above) but lately I’ve really been getting into Badr Vogu, The Cosmic Dead, Goatsnake, Radar Men From The Moon, and King Dude; also been re-visiting a lot of Cathedral and Crowbar albums.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
11. I make a lot of paintings and drawings, like the cover of our demo for instance, I also do a lot of ink drawings and photos. I also do some home brewing too and would eventually like to make a beer for the band.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

12. Thank you for taking the time to interview us, and thank you to anyone who took the time to read this. We’ve got good things planned for the future so keep an eye out for us we’ll catch your attention soon enough.

Sorry it took so long to get these questions back to you, we've all been really busy lately. Thank you again for the interview!

Cheers!

Andrew

Terra Tenebrosa/V.I.T.R.O.L/Apocaplexy Records/2014 EP Review

  Terra  Tenebrosa  are  a band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  avant  garde  form  of  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  ep  "V.I.T.R.O.L"  which  will  be  released  by  Apaocaplexy  Records.

  The  ep  starts  out  with  a  dark,  heavy  and  avant  garde  sound  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  sounding  very  powerful  and  a  few  seconds  later  spoken  word  parts  are  added  into  the  recording  along  with  some  screams  and  after  awhile  melodic  vocals  are  added  in  and  the  music  starts  getting  a  bit  more  heavier  and  darker.

  When  we  get  more  into  the  ep  avant  garde  soundscapes  are  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  drones  and  atmospheric  sounds  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  as  well  as  bringing  in  dark  sounding  synths.

  With  this  ep  Terra  Tenebrosa  take  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  mix  it  in  with  post  hardcore,  and  experimental  avant  garde  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  which  is  also  very  heavy,  dark  and  melodic  sounding.

  Song  lyrics  cover  dark  and  metaphysical  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  dark  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  as  well  as  both  of  the  songs  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Terra  Tenebrosa  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  sludge  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Draining  the  Well".  8  out  of  10.  

Cokegoat Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Chicago.  3 guitars.  3 voices.  1 synth. 1 bass.  1 drummer.  We write what we feel.  No
genre, just heavy.  We enjoy pushing the boundaries of what is heavy music.  We enjoy
each others company.  We enjoy having babies.

2.How would you describe your musical sound?
Heavy.  Not heavy metal, not heavy doom or doom or stoner/doom/sludge/electro
pop/doom, it’s just heavy.  To put labels or genres or subgenres or sub subgenres on your
own band is pointless. In this band we all come from different musical backgrounds and I
believe that shows in our music.  I write what I would like to hear, I’m not really sure what
that is on any given day, but in my opinion, it will sound heavy.

3.The band uses 3 guitars, do you feel this makes the music sound a lot more powerful?
Fuck yeah.  If we practice and one of the guitarist (Chase) isn’t there, there is a noticeable
difference.  You may say, “no shit, of course because you only have 2 guitars, not 3.”  It’s
more than that.  Just the presence of 6 people coming together to create one huge piece of
music that just rolls on.  It’s massive.  My first thought about having 3 guitarist was that we
could do a bunch of crazy duel melodies or be able to have 3 guys playing off each other,
playing different things.  As we started working together it seemed that just the pure power
and feel of 3 guitars, most times playing the same/similar thing, was pure excellence.
Fucking heavy.  You can feel that air pushing.

4.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with
the music?
On the earlier stuff it was whatever.  I was just creating words and phrases that worked with
the music.  I had never really done vocals and played at the same time, so it was out of
necessity to make shit as easy as possible.  Over the last year we’ve been trying to push
the vocals to a new level.  We’re putting as much thought and creativity into the words and
phrasing as the music.  Usually, what I feel that makes or breaks a band for me are the
vocals.  Are they doing something interesting or just the same ol’ scream/grumble/blah
bullshit?  Yeah, I do some of that too, because I like the way it sounds, but at the same time
we do a lot of other stuff with the 2 other voices in the band.  As for the content of the
vocals, I see people as such a small insignificant part of what is going on in the universe.
You must realize how powerful every action of everything is, not just you, how powerful that
reaction will be and so on.  Look up and feel tiny.  Open your eyes and your mind and then
try to bitch about your white people problems.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Cokegoat'?
I could say, “we are all animals, each one of us are drugged out on media/prescription
drugs/caffeine/iWhatever/social media/fast food/etc…” or I could say,  “Who wouldn’t what
to see a goat fucked out of his mind on blow?  Seriously?  That would be one hell of a
party.”  I’ll go with the latter.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would
you describe your stage performance?
I’ve said it before, Chicago has a wonderful heavy music scene.  We’ve have had the
privilege of sharing the stage with Church of Misery, Jucifer, Electric Hawk, Indian, Order of
the Owl to name a few. We always come prepared to bring a well executed, thick, heavy,
high energy good time.  Just check out our drummer at the next show.  Dude plays like he’s
going to cut your face off, roll it up and smoke it.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Right now we are writing for our follow up, and having babies.  We are in a really good
writing groove right now.  I’d hate to disrupt that with any huge plans.  We have a few
awesome shows coming up late spring in Chicago.  We are working on doing some long
weekends in the summer.  I’m not sure how much of a touring band we will be.  Most of us
are on the wrong side of 30.  The far wrong side.  We’d all like to do a couple weeks here
and there National Lampoon’s European Vacation style.  I’d like to get some support and
have someone help us with booking.  Make it worth everyone’s while.

8.Recently The Path Less Traveled has re­issued your self released 2013 album, where
you satisfied with the final results?
Definitely.  Andy Nelson (Weekend Nachos) at Bricktop Recording here in Chicago did a
wonderful job.  From start to finish.  The guy knows his stuff in the studio, with electronics,
and has a wonderful knowledge of all things music.  It was relaxed and a great time
hanging out with the guy.  We knew what we wanted it to sound like going in and we
accomplished that.  Tattooer Max Brown did a great job with the album artwork.  I had a few
conversations with him about it and he just ran with it.  We decided to go with a more DIY
approach with the jackets/inserts.  Josh Davis at Deadmeat Designs printed and scored
everything for us, we then, as a band, assembled each jacket and stuffed the inserts and
records.  You can’t beat 180 gram vinyl.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge, doom
and stoner metal?
The reviews from North America have been great.  The European reviews have been
so­so, or maybe Google translator is broken.  But whatever, I’m just happy people are
listening and describing our music to someone that might have never heard of us.  I really
don’t care if they slam the record and call it the biggest piece of shit since the last Kix
record.  As long as they describe it honestly, compare it to stuff and throw the links up, I’m
good.  Let the public make their own decision.  There’s been many times I’ve been turned
on to bands by a writer who just describes what he/she is hearing, calling it shitty the whole
time, but just the description will get me to check it out.

10.Where do you see the band heading into music wise during the future?
It’s hard to say.  I’m not even sure where each individual song is headed.  This is one of the
great things about this band, unpredictability when it comes to songs.  I do want to keep
pushing our vocals, always keeping it fresh and interesting.  We will keep it heavy, I can
see that in our crystal ball.

11.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and
also what are you listening to nowadays?
I’ve asked the whole band to answer this question.
Ed Nudd/guitar/vocals:
INFLUENCES: Agalloch, Opeth, Paradise Lost, Cynic and Rush.
LISTENING TO:  the new Cynic and the new Alcest album (fucking awesome).  I just
finished "Lord of Chaos" last week, the book about black metal and the church burnings in
Norway, so I've been dabbling in a bit of first and second­wave black metal too, Beherit,
Bathory, Ulver, Burzum.  Also Chicago locals Murmur and Bongripper
Chase Bentley/guitar:
INFLUENCES: Shudder To Think , Helmet, Mushuggah, Don Caballero , Thin Lizzy, King
Crimson, anything mathy.
LISTENING TO: Velvet Underground, Coffinworm, Gorguts, The Atlas Moth, Genesis King
crimson, Killing joke.
Jordan Schultz/drums:
INFLUENCES: Shudder To Think, Keelhaul, Kayo Dot, Kylesa, High on Fire, Crimson, Thin
Lizzy, Drive like Jehu, Don cab, Helmet.
LISTENING TO: Talking Heads, Swervedriver, Earth (Bees made honey in the lion's skull),
Joy Division
Rebekah Brown/synth/vocals:
INFLUENCES:  Rush, Doors, Norman Greenbaum, Kinks, Carol King, Jim Croce.
LISTENING TO:  Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Seger System, Cal Tjader, White noise maker
for baby­ Ocean sound.
Tim Baldwin/bass:
INFLUENCES: Mercyful Fate, Maiden, Priest, Sabbath, Coltrane, Miles Davis,  Harold
Budd, Yes, Thrones, Earth, Sunn, some punk stuff.
LISTENING TO: High Spirits, Yob, Willie Nelson, Stars of the Lid. Oh and Manilla Road.
And Inquisition.
Jeff Wojtysiak:
For me, growing up in the 80’s listening Black Sabbath, Metallica and Slayer had a huge
influence on me.  Plus bands like Queen and Yes.  Then in the mid 90s it was stuff like
Tortoise, Don Caballero, The Fucking Champs, King Crimson and Trans Am.  Stuff that
has been catching my ear as of recent and have an influence nowadays are the new
Murmur, Coffinworm, Kayo Dot,  Helm’s Alee, Stomach Earth, The Atlas Moth, Slomatics
and Pallbearer to name a few.

12. What are some of your non musical instruments?
I whistle a lot.  I’m horrible at it but I still do it.  I’m not even sure I know how to do it, but a
sound does come out.  I also like making this synth static noise with my mouth.  Kinda like
the sound in “Frankenstein” that leads into the drum solo.  I think that might just be a
nervous tick though.

13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Based on our first album, our first 8 songs, we are really excited to witness the progression
of this band. I say that as if Cokegoat is an entity that has its own mind and soul. The new
stuff we have written is the new standard, and we will keep raising the bar with each new
song and each new recording.  We don’t plan on getting locked into a “sound” or a genre.  I
really hope people will take this journey with us, keep an open mind and listen to what the
future will offer.

Blighter Interview

1.For those that have never heard or you before, can  you tell us a little bit about the band? We are just a bunch of close friends(and two brothers) that got together to play a bunch of our favorite elements of different genres and to have fun!

2.How would you describe your musical sound? 719 stoner crust!! A mix between crust punk, grind, stoner metal, doom, and sludge

3.Can you tell us a little bit about the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music? A lot of the songs are about the decline of society, very misanthropic topics.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Blighter'? It actually originally came from our drummer and d&d, that's right dungeons and dragons.

5.Out of all the shows that the band has done so far, which one did you enjoy the most?
There's too many great times to pick one, we've had crazy lady bar fights while we were playing, and we've had some killer house shows in flagstaff and Olympia where so many people are crammed into a tiny place! Played in the forest and camped in Albuquerque, Every show is our favorite show, except for a few of them haha.
6.Do you have any show or tour plans for the future?

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest? We really like doing the d.i.y thing at the moment and have had some friends help put out our music like our first 7" was released by us with the help of bad people records and our buddies in carrion decay in Texas have a tape label called hff records. Bryan, our guitarist also just started a label called what's left records. If a good label we respect approached us with something that would help get our music out there I'm sure we wouldn't turn it down, but we definetly aren't out searching.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom, sludge, crust and grind?
It's been great! We just toured with an excellent band from Germany called down on knees I'm weak (which are the best dudes ever!!) and are looking forward to doing a tour with them out there next year.

9.Are any of the band members involved with any other musical projects these days? Ohhhhhh yes!! We all have a ton of different bands. Bryan O sings in a grind/punk band called 908 and plays guitar/sings in a two piece zombie thrash band with cliff, while he also plays drums with lee in a killer doom grind band called rhogog, Sean plays drums and does vocals in a black metal/crusty doom band called saus and Bryan w plays bass in an awesome lo-if garage rock band called shiiii whaaa(it is members of his past awesome garage bands the nicotine fits and conjugal visits)

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?weve been wanting to go both ways, writing some songs that are a lot groovily and heavy and writing some full on grind assaults as well.

11.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays? We love bands like sleep, sabbath of course, disrupt, insect warfare, crass, dystopia, detestation, catheter and tons others! Some bands that we have met and become great friends with have also influence us as people: swamp wolf, godhunter, hanta/ronoso, down on knees I'm weak, Cron, Samothrace, carrion decay, gaff, greedy mouth, dripfed, sonic vomit, khemmis, in the company of serpents, whilt, and tons more, we love you all!!

12.What are some of your non musical interests? Weed, skateboarding, magic the gathering, weed, Denzel Washington movies, and smoking weed while skateboarding, playing magic the gathering on the way to the newest Denzel Washington movie.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts? We want to say thank you very much to you and everyone that has taken interest in a band from Colorado Springs. From everyone that has put on a show for us, given us a place to stay, fed us, bought a record or tape, came to a show, liked us, hated us, thank you everyone or listening and giving it a chance.

Tribune/Tales/Corpse Corrosion Music/2013 CD Review

  Tribune  are  a  band  from  Canada  that  mixes  melodic  dearth  metal,  thrash  and  doom  on  this  recording  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "Tales"  which  was  released  by  Corpse  Corrosion  Music.

  The  album  starts  out  with  sound  effects  before  going  into  a  more  melodic  stoner  metal  direction  along  with  a  mixture  of  clean  singing  and  groove/death  metal  style  vocals  which  also  leads  up  to  some  high  pitched  screams  and  growls  and  after  awhile  solos  and  leads  are  added  into  the  music.

  As  the  album  continues   more melodic  death  metal,  hardcore,  thrash  and  groove  metal  elements  are  added  into  the  music  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  on  one  of  the  tracks  they  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  haunting  sounding  synths  before  returning  to  a  heavier  direction  along  with  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  on  the  last  track  they  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.

  With  this  album  Tribune  continue  their  mixture  of  melodic  death  and  thrash  metal  while  staying  away  from  the  power  metal  elements  of  the  previous  recording  and  replacing  them  with  doom  metal,  sludge  and  stoner  rock  to  create  a  new  sound  for  this  group.

  Song  lyrics  cover  dark,  metaphysical  and  philosophical  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tribune  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  death,  thrash  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tales"  "The  Butterfly  Effect"  "Horror"  and  "That  Bleakest  Shore".  8  out  of  10.

Cokegoat/Vessel/The Path Less Traveled Records/2014 CD Review

   Cokegoat  are  a  band  from  Chicago,  Illinois  that  plays  a  very  heavy  form  of  sludge/doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Vessel"  which  will  be  released  by  The  Path  Less  Traveled  Records.

   The  album  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy  and  aggressive  thrash  sound  along  with  some  aggressive  hardcore/sludge  style  screams  and  after  awhile  the  music  starts  adding  in  hardcore  and  doom  metal elements  along  with  some  melody  as  well  as  bringing  in  atmospheric  sounds  which  also  leads  up  to  death  metal  growls  becoming  a  part  of  the  recording.

  As  the  album  progresses  you  can  hear  traces  of  stoner  rock  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  music  and  at  times  you  can  hear  small  amounts  of  clean  singing  and  psych  sounds  along  with all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  after  awhile  acoustic  guitars  are  brought  in  at  time s which  gives  the  music  a  more  classic  rock  feeling  and  there  are  also  guitar  solos  and  leads  being  utilized  at  times.

  When  we  get  more  into  the  album  the  music  speeds  up  a  bit  and  you  can  hear  a  good  amount  of  black  metal  influences  and  blast  beats  along  with  harsh noise  sounds  being  used  briefly  before  making  a  return  to  the  sludge/doom  metal  sound  and  on  a  couple  of  the  tracks  melodic  female  vocals  are  added  into  the  music.

  Cokegoat  display  a  good  amount  of  diversity  with  their  music  with  their  ability  to  wrote  some  slow,  dark  and  heavy  sludge  metal  songs  that  also  contain  a  good  amount  of  melody  while  also  not  being  afraid  to  add  in  hardcore,  stoner,  psych  and  noise  sound s to  create  a  very  original  sounding  recording.

  Song  lyrics  cover  dark  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  dark  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Cokegoat  are  a  very  great  sounding  sludge/doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fear  the  Followers"  "Dogs"  "Fly  by  Daylight"  and  "Glorious  Dead".  8  out  of  10.

  

Stoneburner/Life Drawing/Neurot/2014 CD Review

 

   Stoneburner  are  a  band  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  plays  sludge/doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Life  Drawing"  which  will  be  released  by  Neurot.

  The  album  starts  out  with  distorted  reverb  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  along  with  some  powerful  sounding  bass  and  rhythm  guitars  which  take  the  music  into  a  sludge/doom  metal  direction  which  also  leads  up  to  a  mixture  of  screams  and  growls  and  you  can  also  hear  a  good  amount  of  melody  in  the  recording  along  with  some  guitar  leads.

  When  we  get  more  into  the  album  you  can  hear  some  clean  and  acoustic  guitars  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  small  amount  of  prog  and  post  metal  elements  as  well  as  a  small  amount  of  psychedelia  and  they  also  bring  in  a  couple  of  instrumentals  and  as  time  goes  on  by  you  can  hear  crustcore  influences  being  added  into  the  music  and  on  the  last  track  drones  are  added  into  the  song.

  Stoneburner  bring  a  very  different  approach  to  sludge  and  doom  metal  with  having  a  good  balance  between  heaviness  and  melody  as  well  as  traces  of  post,  crust,  sludge  and  psychedelia  which  add  up  to  a  very  dark  and  original  sound.

  Song  lyrics  cover  person  matters,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  dark  and professional  sound  where  you  can  hear all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  as  well  as  most  of  the  song s being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Stoneburner  are  a  very  great  sounding  heavy,  dark  and  original  sludge/doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Some  Can"  "An  Apology  To  A  Friend  In  Need"  "Done"  and  "The  Phoenix".  8  out  of  10.

Maeth interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

BOONE: We're playing a lot of shows, and writing new music simultaneously. We just expanded into a five piece so that's been fun. We have two drummers now, which is pushing the music in really cool new directions.

SAM: In addition to being really active on the Twin Cities show circuit, I think we’re in a really cool transitional period as a band. The decision to start working with two drummers and our increased ability to create physical materials to accompany our performances and recordings allows us to branch out into aspects of our creative vision for this project that weren’t accessible to us before. I guess I could just say “we’re trying to be a real band now,” but I think it feels deeper than that to us.

2.Recently you have put out a new album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction of the new recording?

BOONE: Our latest record is called Oceans Into Ashes, and it expands a lot on our first release, Horse Funeral. It's a lot more intense, and a lot deeper. The music tends to be much more complex, with a lot more nuance. I think there's a stronger progressive or experimental rock influence. It doesn't sound wanky or technical, but it's there are a lot of layers and small details. We wanted it to take active listening and multiple listens, to fully appreciate. That being said I also think it has a lot of really heavy, really catchy riffs that make you bang your head. 

3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects the new release explores?

BOONE: We don't like to discuss the meaning of our lyrics much, sometimes even with each other. All of our work is heavily conceptual, but we don't make concept albums in a traditional sense, so if you're looking to follow a lyrical narrative from point A to point B throughout the album then it's not going work. That being said all of the lyrics focus on fictional (or fictionalized) narratives constructed by our music. The songs take place in the same consensual reality, and reference and influence each other. Oceans Into Ashes is heavily textured, and a lot of the lyrics describe places, setting, and spaces. They're like a really abstract visual aid for the music. For me the imagery tends to deal with a simultaneous origin story and apocalypse; it's the beginning and the end. I think reading the lyrics along to the music, even when there aren't vocals, improves the listening experience. 

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Maeth'?

BOONE: Maeth is an ancient Hebrew word that means "death" or "dead." In the myth of the Golem a rabbi writes "Aemaeth" meaning "truth" on his clay statue to bring it to life, and thus create the Golem. When he realizes this was a mistake he erases the first Hebrew letter off of the Golem's forehead, to spell "Maeth" and that returns the Golem to mere clay. The name was suggested by someone who isn't in our band anymore, but we decided to keep it anyways. It's a good metaphor for how we practice and understand music. It's also a sound that we find aesthetic. We (mis)pronounce it "mä-ith."

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

BOONE: We've played a lot of really fun and awesome shows so it's hard to pick just one. In January we played several shows with two drummers, and those felt incredibly good. Some fans told us that it was the best we've ever sounded. 

Our live shows are really intense for us. We tend to play very hard and passionately and lose our shit a little bit. Playing music can be really emotional. The only way we know how to make Maeth is to do it as hard as we can. There are soft, lighter parts to be sure, but we're usually trying to convey a heavy emotional state, and in order to do that we have go to that place ourselves. I usually end up in a kind of trance. For that reason I'm not super sure what the people around us are doing. Maybe banging their heads? Maybe just basking in the sound. I'm surprisingly unaware actually. I've seen people moshing and I've seen people making out. 

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new release?

BOONE: We don't have a van right now so we can't tour very far which sucks. Right now we're trying to play everywhere that's feasible using only two cars. That means a lot the upper midwest, like Wisconsin, Iowa, the Dakotas, Illinois, and obviously our home state of Minnesota.

7.The new album came out on Minnesconsin Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

BOONE: We released the album for free online in September, but the CD version is coming out on Minnesconsin. Minnesconsin Records is this really cool label that does weird, unconventional music, with a focus on heavy, sludgy stuff. The guys in Morality Crisis run the label, and they've put out some releases we really love like Morality Crisis' Boats, and Rorschach by Poney. We were really stoked when they asked us if we wanted to release CDs with them, and they've been awesome to work with. If you're looking for good music I highly recommend you check out theirbandcamp. What their catalog lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge?

DAVID: In a word: overwhelming. I don’t think any of us expected our work to reach as many people as it has, and we certainly didn’t anticipate so many of them liking it. It still blows my mind that complete strangers across the globe listen to our music because they legitimately enjoy it. After all, we were just four guys who thought it would be cool to make an album. It turns out that there’s an awesome community of bloggers, radio hosts, musicians, and all kinds of other people worldwide who are committed to finding and sharing good heavy music online. We’ve received a ton of support from them, through album/merch sales as well as kind words and exposure, that’s enabled us to do what we do and take our music to the next level. That a community like that exists is cool enough on its own, but getting to be a part of it is an incredible experience. Sludge fans, doom fans, prog fans; they’ve all been really good to us.

9.What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

DAVID: We’ve been writing new material, and I’m pretty excited about it. It’s gonna be heavy, it’s gonna be crunchy and creamy, and it’s gonna be different. I think we’re pretty young as bands go; we’re all still developing as musicians so there’s this constant evolution in the music we write. Boone’s been busting his ass writing these crazy tapping riffs on bass, Sam’s been leveling up his extended technique on flute, I’m really trying to push myself into new territory on guitar, and then there’s the whole aspect of working with two drummers. We’re also bringing a lot of new equipment into the fold: Sam got a sweet new amp setup, I’m putting together a baritone guitar, and Boone curates effects pedals like they’re craft beers. Moreover, we’re looking forward to taking our time with it; whereas we had to put Oceans Into Ashes together relatively quickly, we’ll get to really polish the new material by trying new arrangements, new gear, trying it out at live shows, etc. All in all, you’re gonna hear a lot of new sounds from the ol’ Maeth boys.

10.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

BOONE: I think discovering Mastodon and Neurosis in high school was huge for my trajectory as a musician. I think it's pretty obvious that I, and other members of the band, listen to a lot of artsy heavy music, like Isis, Intronaut, or Opeth. I also really like music that has nothing to do with that. I listen to a lot of afrobeat, psych rock, and trip hop. I really like the record label Hyperdub and listen to a lot of music they put out. Recently I've been listening to a lot of Burial and Bjork, but the past few days all I've wanted to listen to is the new Sunn O))) and Ulver collaboration. That's probably my favorite recent release.

SAM: My musical background is a little odd and so a lot of the artists that influence me the most aren’t heavy artists. I’m a huge fan of classical music and my love for layered, interlocking riffs comes as much from Bach as it does from Mastodon. My favorite music tends to rely on the creation of convincing sonic atmosphere or backdrop on which winding song structures and fascinating musical ideas create a non-specific narrative. Some of my favorite favorite examples of this kind of writing include Jean Sibelius’ 7th symphony and the 1972 Genesis album “Foxtrot.”

11.What are some of your non musical interests? 

BOONE: There's so much it's hard to choose what to bring up. I'm a huge nerd about documentaries, and am constantly looking for new docs to watch. I'm really into surrealist literature. I love beer (who doesn't) and started brewing recently. I'm really into tabletop games and RPGs. I've kept playing those even though I've stopped playing video games. I'm also a pretty avid and opinionated environmentalist, but I don't talk about that much. Political conversations are awkward and I'm shy. I probably could have stopped after "I'm a huge nerd."

SAM: I’m a big baseball fan and spend a lot of time on dorky stat blogs like FanGraphs. I have a fantasy baseball league that I’ve been running for 11 years now. My new rig is Orange and Black, which was partially by chance (they were the best deals on the head/cab combo I was looking for) and partially a nod to the San Francisco Giants, the team I grew up with. Really we’re all just big nerds.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

BOONE: I usually try to think of something clever to say at the end of interviews, but I'm kind of drawing a blank. Don't trust the digital horse agenda. Make sure to test your kombucha. If you're fighting a shark look him dead in the eyes. Tupac lives. Listen to Oceans Into Ashes and download it for free on our bandcamp. It was Mr. Green in the billiard room with the candlestick. 

Dementia Senex Interview

G= Gianmaria,bass player
C= Cristian,singer

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

G: -Hi! Sure,we are currently promoting our latest EP,Heartworm. It’s been out for almost a year (1 year on April 9th actually) and we are also writing new material for our first full length album.

2.A few months back you released a new ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical of the new recording and also how does it differ from your previous demo?

G: -Heartworm has been a huge step forward from the band’s previous demo,it’s much more mature,meaningful and fresh sounding. It’s obviously been addressed in that direction,but it also came out like that because of the big line up changes that happened in these 4 years.


3.This is your first release in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about the gap?

C:- We started as an old school death metal band,playing Swedish oriented stuff like Entombed and At The Gates, we were only 18 years old and our musical approach was really different back then. In four years the genre and the line up had for various reasons, but only me and Mattia (the drummer) have been into the project with honest passion since the beginning. Luckily after 4 years we found the right people and path, and what we are now is what we want to be.


4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?

C: -Our lyrical themes are mainly about loss and the harrowing human condition. I and other guys in the band are really stoked with E.M. Cioran’s philosophy, and his pessimistic words are floating in my mind all the time, so don’t expect any positivity for the new album.


5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Dementia Senex'?

C: - Dementia Senex is derived by “senile dementia”, a pathology which determines mental deterioration in old age; is usually used to describe people who have two or more major life functions damaged or lost such as memory, perception or reasoning; they may lose emotional and behavioral control, develope personality changes and have problem solving abilities reduced or lost.It’s the basic concept of what I want to express. The inspiration about that was during an High school lesson about Italo Svevo.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

G: -I’ve been in the band since September actually,and since then the band has been more active than ever. As for playing live,we care a lot about our tone,we want the music to be clear and we play as tightly as possible. If I were to use only a word to define our shows I’d go for “intense”,both physically and atmosphere-wise. In my opinion,our best show has been in a small venue in Bergamo. The place was packed and the guys were really pumped up,lots of physical contact and crowd surfing going on.

C: -In my opinion we didn’t play the best show yet. Playing gigs for me is a sort of ritual and a way to with the “unknown”. I hope for engaging and atmospheric suites every time, but our show isn’t suitable everyone.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

G: -As of now,we are planning to stop playing live for a couple of months in the summer to concentrate on our full length as much as possible. We’re going to play a couple of shows/fests here and there just for special occasion. After the release of our full length we’ll probably start promoting it around Europe.


8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of extreme metal?

C: -It seems that the Heartworm EP is more appreciated in United States, and is a really good thing for us. Also german and French reviews are quite positive, probably with an european tour we’ll be able to spread our music even more.

9.Are any of the other band members involved with any other musical projects these days?

G: -I am,along with Chris (the singer) involved in LAMBS,a dark hardcore/sludge band where I play guitar and write music instead of playing bass. One of our guitarists,Marco, plays in guitar in his own brutal death metal band Carnality (their second album will be released this year actually),he also plays in Funera Edo and another handful of bands which I don’t remember. Last but not least our drummer Mattia plays in an old school death/thrash band called 7 Steps.


10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

G: -We are currently writing new material,and even if we haven’t got a lot of new stuff,I’d say it’s the natural evolution of the EP. The atmosphere plays a big role in the songs but there are also big riffs and it flows well. There are moments of chaos and dissonance as well as beautiful melodic sections. I’d say that our main goal with this album will be to craft a piece of experimental music that flows well while expressing what we honestly feel.



11.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

G: -We all listen to a lot of different stuff,ranging from grindcore to post rock,some of us are more into death metal and some into hardcore/post metal kind of stuff,but this doesn’t get in the way when we approach composition. We don’t (nor we want to) write a section trying to sound like Mastodon or whatever,we just have our own background and it influences to a certain degree what we do.I’m very much into The Ocean, Converge and Botch and I guess it translates somehow into my playing. Lately I’ve been listening a lot to Misanthrope(s) by Celeste, Commuters by Coilguns and OMNI by Minus the Bear. The last one is such an underrated masterpiece.

C: - 4/5 of the band enjoyed a lot “Everything is fire” by Ulcerate, we played with them two years ago and it has been an impressive moment for us.  By the way I personally listen a lot of different stuff: from Mogwai to Oranssi Pazuzu or Clint Mansell, but at the moment I’m stoked with the latest Artificial Brain’s release (Labyrinth Constellation), it sounds simply extreme and amazing.


12.Do you have any non musical interests?

G: -I really don’t do much aside from music. I’m a student so my time is spent writing music,playing shows,rehearsing,doing stuff that students do (you know what I mean) and trying to earn some money to afford doing all the above on my own.

C: - Music occupies most of my time but I’m into every kind of art, especially visuals and graphic arts. I really like reading or discussing about philosophy and psychology  topics and drinking a good red beer in a small club.I also enjoy watching movies and series,lately I’m following Utopia, Vikings and True Dective.


13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

C: - Thanks for your kindness. We really appreciate it and wish you good luck as well for your blog. Check it out our music here https://thepathlesstraveledrecords.bandcamp.com/album/heartworm and stay tuned  with us http://www.facebook.com/dementiasenex .