Tag: Post-Metal

INTERVIEW WITH SHEPHERD

INTERVIEW WITH SHEPHERD
FIRST HAND…Blurring The Lines Of Metal Genres!
By Stephanie Stevens

Welcome to the world where Stoner and Doom soundscapes intertwine with Modern Metal. Denver, Colorado’s SHEPHERD is crossing genres all over the place, with the band’s latest full EP “FIRST HAND”. The heaviness is sustainable throughout the record, but it weaves in and out with layers of Post-Metal, Rock and even hints of Hardcore. From songs like ‘CHARIOT’, ‘SEA CAVE’ and ‘PERSEPHONE’ you will be guided into the not normal atmosphere of Doom Metal and it’s just a really breathtaking freshness.

I had a chance to speak to the guys about working with Juggernaut Audio, how they fell into the love for Doom Metal and what brings them happiness in a live show setting.

Q. Tell us a little bit about the members of SHEPHERD and how long you have been playing music?

A: We’re a few blue-collar dudes from the burbs north of Denver who’ve been fortunate enough to live most of our lives here in Colorado. We’ve all been in several bands throughout childhood with and without each other and after the last project we were all involved in went belly up we moved forward with the power trio line-up to fully realize our sound and fine-tune our craft.

Q. What instilled your love for the Doom/Stoner rock vibe that you guys have made and is there a particular band in this genre who influenced you the most?

A: We all listened to a lot of metal and metal sub-genres in high school which I suppose made for a solid foundation. Coming out of high school and gaining new perspectives we all branched out a great deal and gained a lot of new influences. Once we finally came back together, we really intersected on Deftones which is kind of outside the stoner sound, but I think their fingerprints can be found on this album and will continue to be an influence for us as a group.

Q. In November you released your debut EP, “FIRST HAND”. What can you tell people about finishing a project you put your heart and soul into and knowing the world will be listening soon. What emotions do you go through during that process?

A: When “First Hand” finally came out, one of the chief emotions was definitely relief, followed by a sense of pride for having accomplished the entire process of writing, recording, and releasing an album. Given everything that has transpired this year both during the process and up until the time we released it, we were definitely in need of a win. We’re proud of this album as our first entry into our career as a band and we’re thrilled with the response we’ve received so far.

Q. What is the biggest thing you learned about yourself as musicians working with Juggernaut Audio and what would you tell other bands if they are looking for a studio?

A: Ben at Juggernaut has been our biggest supporter and someone who has imparted a lot of lessons upon us throughout this endeavour. This was our first real studio experience since we’ve all been playing music and while we came well prepared, there’s a lot of unexpected things that can come up in the weeks or months that it takes to finish an album and Ben was instrumental in guiding us through the whole enchilada. We would highly recommend him to anyone in the Denver area and abroad who’s looking for a professional and seasoned audio engineer, whether the music is metal or otherwise.

Q. ‘CHARIOT’ was your first single. What made that song stick out to be the platform song for the EP and how did you approach the songwriting aspect of that track?

A: ‘Chariot’ has a really catchy bridge part that we amended somewhat on the fly while we were in the studio and once it all came together in an hour or so we really thought it elevated the song in a lot of ways and gave the clearest impression of our sound and what to expect from the rest of the record.

Q. ‘PERSEPHONE’ is the newest single and it’s a song about a mythic tale. What made you dive in lyrically to a song like this and what was the best thing about writing a story like this?

A: We pulled that one together almost a year ago now in the midst of the doldrums of winter, which I think can be heard in the overall mood or tone of the song. ‘Persephone’ has some pretty clear surface themes which don’t pose too much of an issue to dissect, but it does have some more personal subtext in the lyrics and hopefully, where they’re a little bit more peculiar a listener, could take something away of their own. The best thing about writing a song that could be perceived as fiction is that there really aren’t any rules or anything grounding you into a preconceived notion or idea, you can be free to create your own little world and populate it with whatever you like.

Q. For people who are new to your style of music, how do you guys get that blizzard of distortion into your songs, and how fun is it to play in a live setting?

A: Our sound comes from adoration for the monster rigs of bands past and present. There’s something so powerful about the idea and the image of a wall of amplifiers that has always driven us to pursue some level of that in a live setting. We’re also huge gear nerds, we love the wide world of effects pedals and tone-crafting and combining different elements to create your own sonic signature. What you’re hearing on the album is a meticulous collection of our own personal taste and what you can expect to hear at a live show. For now, at least, until the sound gets bigger.

Q. Speaking of live shows, what is the best thing about playing your music live and how would you describe your fans?

A: The best part about playing live is the feeling you get right below your heart and right above your gut. The feeling of being nervous and excited all at once. You become so unhinged that you forget about any troubles or worries going on in your life. The only thing on your mind is playing as best you can while putting feeling into what you’re playing. It’s almost like going on a roller coaster on acid. You don’t know where the hell you are or where you’re going but you know it’s fun and best of all it’s loud. Our music works for anyone and everyone, young and old. We’re often surprised at how diverse our fan base seems. We’re truly grateful for everyone who gave us a shot and we’ve got more to come. This is only the beginning.

Q. Music industry-wise, what are you hoping to see change in 2021 and how can fans help support change in the industry, that has been beaten down in 2020?

A: If there is anything we could all obviously agree on is making sure that we can all hopefully enjoy playing and seeing live shows again. It’s what we live for and like a religion to us. there is no honest substitute for the real deal. That being said, it’s very hard for a lot of touring musicians who not only love shows, but also need it to pay the bills. One thing that musicians are staring down right now is the issue with streaming royalties. Bands and musicians are getting the shaft when it comes to fair compensation on almost every platform, and without the income from touring it’s nearly impossible for artists to get what they deserve.

Q. Empower another artist by telling us why they inspire you?

A: It would a tough ask for us to settle on one band that inspires us all. but if we had to shed a light on anyone it would be all the bands struggling to survive in this very trying time. Live music and the entertainment industry have taken one of the hardest blows we will probably experience in our lifetime. So, whomever you enjoy whether it be us, or any other band trying to make it in the midst of all this. Buy merch, Buy an album, give them a couple more likes and follows. Do what you can to keep your favourite acts and artists in a place where they can continue to create.

The End

CONNECT WITH THE BAND:

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Stephanie Stevens and East Coast Romper, and has been released to Ever Metal on this basis. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s with SEA SLEEPER

EMQ’s with SEA SLEEPER

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Portland, Oregon based Post-Metal band, Sea Sleeper. Huge thanks to bassist/vocalist Nick Kessler for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

My name is Nick Kessler, I’m the bass player for Sea Sleeper and I share vocal duties as well. Sea Sleeper was formed a couple of years ago from previous members of Crackling Dawn. The three of us, Jess Cooley, Shane Cooley and myself, have played together in metal bands since I joined their first band Southgate in 2011 and Jess and Shane have been playing music together since they were in high school.

How did you come up with your band name?

Jess keeps writing songs about sea adventure, shipwrecks, drowning, etc. The song ‘Salt’ off our new album was originally called Sea Sleeper and we felt like it fit the nautical misfortune theme that we keep coming back to.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We are from Portland, Oregon and the metal scene here is really great but currently a bit on the quiet side due to the pandemic. We’ve been active in the metal community here, playing shows around town for about the last ten years and we’ve seen some amazing local bands along the way.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

Our new album “Nostophobia” will be out in early 2021 and we released the first single ‘Old Guard’ on November 5th.

‘Old Guard’ (Official Video)

Who have been your greatest influences?

There are so many but some bass players that have been really important to me are Steve Harris, Chris Squire, Stanley Clarke, Jean-Michelle Labadie, Dave Ellefson and so many more.

What first got you into music?

I listened to a lot of classic rock with my dad growing up, he was a big “The Who” fan and we listened to a ton of Beatles and Yes and that kind of thing. I think my uncle made me a mix CD with a lot of punk like Sex Pistols and X and Dead Kennedys and so I went through a bit of a punk phase. Then I got into heavier music through skateboarding actually, when I was a kid probably 12 or 13 I had Zero’s misled youth on VHS tape and I remember Adrian Smith’s part in Iron Maiden’s ‘The Prowler’ and I couldn’t get it out of my head and then I listened to Maiden religiously and slowly got exposed to more and more metal and I’ve been swimming in these dank waters ever since.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

I’ve been getting into a lot more electronic music lately and I really enjoy metal that thoughtfully blends synth music with heavy portions like Blut Aus Nord and Anaal Nathrakh and Genghis Tron and Axis of Perdition and so many other bands with kind of a horror aesthetic so I’d love to collaborate with someone who makes genuinely frightening and dark electronic music like Makeup and Vanity Set or Disasterpiece. I’d love to collaborate with Jeff Whitehead of Leviathan but he’s such an incredible solo composer I doubt he needs me.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

I think Wacken would be amazing if Europe ever lets us Americans back in. We’ve played lots of local shows opening up for touring acts but never a major festival so we would love nothing more.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I have never gotten a gift from a fan but if anyone wants to give me a gift that’d be great. I like atmospheric black metal records and my favourite whiskey is Ardbeg and my birthday is in December so…

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Thank you for listening to Sea Sleeper, it blows my mind that people are into it. Follow me on Instagram for pictures of my cat.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

For me, David Bowie. Albums he made in the 2000’s era like “Reality” and “Blackstar” are some of my favourites and Bowie just seemed like a guy who loved life.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

I love playing shows, watching other bands play, watching the crowd, everything about the live music experience is so much fun. There’s nothing I hate about being a musician but I’m honestly not a big “gear-head” and the technical elements of switching out pickups and pedals and amp heads and the constant trade-ins and upgrades some guys love doing is not for me, I like as clean and stone simple a setup as possible.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

I’m not the first person to say this but streaming is the best and worst thing for musicians. On the one hand people can listen to your music so easily and for free so there’s no roadblocks to interested people finding you. But of course, people aren’t buying music to the same extent as they once did, and musicians make next to nothing from streaming. I’m not sure what I would actually change because I think streaming is great in many ways but maybe it needs to be more expensive or giants like Spotify need to pay their artists better.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

There are so many, I’ll say Leviathan: “A Silhouette In Splinters” because I just found that one on vinyl and I’ve been playing it a ton. Really great ambient black metal atmosphere.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

I think vinyl is fun for the ritual and my cat likes to watch it spin so that’s a big plus. I grew up on CD’s and cassette tapes and have no interest in returning to them. Ultimately probably downloads are best but that answer is no fun, so I’ll return to the one my cat likes and say vinyl.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

As Sea Sleeper we only played a few shows before Covid hit but we got to play with Dyscarnate and Fit for an Autopsy and that was really really fun.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

We all have day jobs, so I guess the only thing music is preventing me from doing is an alternative hobby. I guess I could have gotten really into doing those little plastic models.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

I only have like 5 friends so 4 of them and my wife.

What’s next for the band?

We just signed with Metal Assault Records, so we’ll be promoting our current album with them and writing has already started for the next album. We want to get into live streaming so we can start doing shows again while keeping folks safe, so I think that’s the next big thing in the pipeline.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

We’re on all of the major ones, Facebook, Bandcamp, Twitter, etc, but we’re most active on Instagram so check us out there and send us a message, we love getting messages from fellow metalheads.

www.seasleeper.com/
www.instagram.com/sea_sleeper/
www.facebook.com/seasleeper/
www.seasleeper.bandcamp.com/

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

My wife is from Virginia so in our household biscuits are made with buttermilk, but I’ll try to answer your weird British question. As I understand it, a biscuit is like a somewhat crisp cookie and I have heard that Jaffa Cakes are soft. And they are called Jaffa Cakes, which leads me to believe the manufacturer understands them to be cakes. So, Jaffa Cakes are cakes, I hope I didn’t just get cancelled in Britain.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thanks so much for giving me this platform to address the Jaffa Cake question. If you take away nothing else from this interview, please just know that Jaffa Cakes are cakes. And check out “Nostophobia”, we’re very proud of it.

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s with THE HOPE BURDEN

EMQ’s with THE HOPE BURDEN

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Oxfordshire, UK Post-Metal band, The Hope Burden. Huge thanks to them for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

We are The Hope Burden. We play atmospheric post-metal, combining ambient passages with the heaviness of hardcore and some black metal influence. We started about 4 years ago as an instrumental band but a year later we added Josh on vocals

How did you come up with your band name?

We threw a lot of names around but eventually our drummer came up with The Hope Burden and it just stuck.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We are from all over Oxfordshire in the UK. We have all been in separate metal bands and came together from those connections. The Oxford scene is quite small in terms of metal and heavier bands although we do have some good promoters and venues (although as with many places, the small venues are increasingly at risk).

Talking about the Oxford scene more generally, it probably punches above its weight.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

We have a new single ‘Lamentation’ out on April 17th on all good streaming services.

Who have been your greatest influences?

We take a lot of different influences from across the board, including Devil Sold His Soul, ISIS, Rosetta, The Elijah, Deafheaven, Converge.

What first got you into music?

I think having groups of likeminded friends that all get into music at the same time encourages people to take up instruments/get into music more deeply.

Going to shows at a young age, meeting people and seeing inspiring bands all helps to create the next generation of musicians.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Our friends in Grief Ritual from Cheltenham would be amazing to collaborate with. Or Ghosts in the Photographs from Oxford would be great – they’re an instrumental band with similar ambient leanings and so that could work well.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

ArcTanGent would be great to play just because it’s the kind of festival where we would fit in really well. There’s always a huge number of bands that we all like playing each year.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I think a highlight is Josh being recognised in his local Lush (how rock and roll) but we’ve never received anything from fans.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Please listen to our new single, out on 17th April!

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

I’m sure we all have different answers individually, but Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson have both come up!

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

We love playing live and getting a connection with the crowd no matter if there’s 10 or 200 people as long as one of them likes us then that’s a job well done.

One thing we hate is the waiting around before the show, we just want to see bands play!

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

In some cases, the prevailing trends can lead to bands sounding really similar rather than concentrating on something more unique.

Attendance at small shows can sometimes be underwhelming which is a real shame.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

I’m not sure the whole band could agree on a favourite album. Mastodon have never released anything that isn’t good.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

We’re not sure there is a single best format. Downloading is most convenient, vinyl is great for the large format artwork and for the collectability, but I still buy CD’s!

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Bloodstock festival in 2019 was easily the most exciting gig. We probably didn’t play the best on account of the nerves but having such a huge crowd was a massive achievement for us.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Well none of us are musicians by trade, we all have day jobs. I imagine we would all still be involved in music in some form, going to gigs if we weren’t playing.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Corey Taylor, Shania Twain, Stephen Fry, Joe Exotic, Morgan Freeman

What’s next for the band?

With the new single we plan to eventually hit the live circuit once the corona virus situation has cleared up.

We have more music in the works and hope to release something else by the end of the year, complete with a video.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

This link takes you to everything The Hope Burden:
www.linktr.ee/thehopeburden

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

Clue’s in the name, they’re a cake. Too soft to be a biscuit!

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.