LLNN – Unmaker Pelagic Records Release Date: 24/09/21 Running Time: 39:52 Review by Steven Hooke 9/10
Danish four-piece LLNN are not ones to wait around, with the release of their third album (four major releases overall) in five years. Traditionally a genre of prolonged turnover, the Post-Metal Doom-bringers seem to be careering towards an end goal of being the heaviest thing in the known universe.
The current state they have reached with “Unmaker” is “really, bastard heavy.”
Sounding somewhere in the ballpark of Deathcore played at 0.25 speed, Sludge Metal that has transcended into full-blown tar, and whatever noise is emitted from the deepest, darkest corner of a black hole, LLNN offer an astounding soundtrack to the apocalypse, expanding their musical relationship with keyboardist Ketil G. Sejersen, who joined the band around the time of LLNN’s previous album, 2018’s “Deads”. His work in tandem with the stomach-turning riffs, and thunderous drums, can evoke rage, fear, and despair, manipulating emotions more than WWII Germany’s Jericho trumpets ever could. On the likes of ‘Scion’, despite the song being in perpetual beatdown-mode, Ketil’s shrieking keys allow little chance for the listener to settle, or even ride with the groove, instead adding to the constant onslaught.
Even when Christian Bonnesen’s riff game expands outside the mortar-fire stomp, injecting a touch of Post-Hardcore in ‘Obsidian’, a Meshuggah-esque groove in ‘Division’, and even Black Metal into ‘Forger’ and ‘Desecrator’, Rasmuses Furbo (bass) and Sejersen (drums) are still 1000% dictating the tempo, at all times. Their world building in ‘Tethers’, alongside Ketil, creating a calm-before-the-storm isolation before Bonnesen comes in to kick your head in, is morbidly marvellous, leading nicely to the serene finale of ‘Resurrection’.
The absolute highlight of the album though comes from half-way point ‘Interloper’. A gorgeous song, with a slow-build, typically brutal stomp, and then a spine-tingling chorus that would be suited to Hell itself, were they allowed to submit to Eurovision. Ketil’s work in the chorus and ensuing breakdown takes the guise of a delicate, emotional funeral scene, straight into sci-fi horror where the many-teethed space demon is hunting your dumb “should we split up?” arse.
LLNN are sitting pretty in a venn diagram of being ridiculously heavy, and being genuinely interesting. While the past few years has seen an emergence of beatdown Hardcore and Nu-Metalcore, many of those acts already sound repetitive, and can be traced back to a band that burst onto the scene only a few years prior. LLNN are diving two-footed into Sludge, Post-Hardcore and Post-Metal territory, and immediately grabbing the spotlight. Their fascinating ability to operate in a fairly strict tempo range, yet have a sound so gripping, thanks to their collusions with and appreciations of horror and sci-fi movie and video game soundtracks, is amazing. An intelligent thoughtfulness goes into this music, and what comes out is fucking unreal.
LINE-UP: Christian Bonnesen – Vocals, Guitar Rasmus Furbo – Bass Ketil G. Sejersen – Synths Rasmus G. Sejersen – Drums
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Steven Hooke and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Belgian based, Post-Metal band Aufhebung. Huge thanks to guitarists Seb Weyts & Simon Neskens, 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?
Seb: We’re called Aufhebung and we play post-metal. Basically, it’s a fusion of two bands, Luchtbegrafenis and Aufhebung (yes, we came up with a lot of new options but Simon felt none really beat the name Aufhebung). Two members overlapped already (Simon and Joris) and when Aufhebung was going to prepare recording their debut album, some band members couldn’t go on because of COVID regulations etc. Since Aufhebung’s composer, Simon, clicked perfectly musically and mindset-wise with Luchtbegrafenis’ (me), the decision was made to just fuse both. For a bassist we invited August, who played in Opium Heathen and The Waltz and I knew he’d be into this kind of stuff. We then started to rewrite our material to make it match even that bit better. And we’re super productive as well! The first album is just released and the second is already 70% composed.
Simon: It’s a dope team.
How did you come up with your band name?
Seb: Well, before the merge, Simon was looking for a name that would address his desire for mankind to cease destroying nature. At one time I said, referring to Hegelian philosophy, ‘Ah so you mean an Aufhebung of the opposition between culture and nature?’ and he was immediately convinced. Aufhebung, which both means ‘to lift (to a higher level)’ and ‘to annihilate’, is used for what happens when a synthesis is reached between a thesis and an antithesis: their opposition is annihilated and both now coexist in a new way of being. Luchtbegrafenis, as the other originating band was called, means sky burial (Jhator), a form of excarnation practiced in Asia and America. We originally wanted to come up with a new name for the fused band, but none were really better than those we had and the meaning of Aufhebung more than perfectly suits this new and improved synthesis of both bands, we just stuck to that.
Simon: Indeed.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
Seb: We’re from different parts of Belgium (and Weiyan, the drummer, is from Kuala Lumpur). It’s a small country with a really vibrant scene. There’s a lot of really cool and innovative music coming from all around. There are bands like Stake, Raketkanon, Amenra, Briqueville… We’ve had a lot of really cool experimental music in Belgium since at least the eighties and there’s been a long standing hardcore scene in West-vlaanderen, but in recent years there’s just so much interaction between the different parts of the country and its soundscape. It’s a good time and place to live if you’re into heavy music, or it was, until this pandemic thing started of course.
Simon:Limbuuurg. Vies dikke shgijvhe!
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Seb: We released our first single, ‘Lament’, last month, the 23rd of April and on the 23rd of May, our first album, “Chasms”, was released as well! It’ll be all digital (since we can’t play any shows to sell our merch at the moment – and we don’t have any money) but we’ll do a physical release, vinyl, when funds allow it.
Simon: That’s correct.
‘Lament’ (Visualiser)
Who have been your greatest influences?
Seb: For me, that would be Russian Circles, Fall of Efrafa, Amenra, Raketkanon, Dietrich Buxtehude and Dhafer Youssef, though the latter ones might be more indirect.
Simon: And Yob and Neurosis.
What first got you into music?
Seb: Well, I was kinda lucky. When I was born, I already had a variety of music accessible to me. Not just Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Rage Against the Machine, but also good jazz, classical etcetera. I woke up my family with Beethoven when I was six, with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers when I was eight and with Rammstein when I was ten. And also, there were guitars. When I was maybe seven, my parents decided it was a good idea to have me get guitar classes, and since I was a docile little kid, that’s what I did.
Simon: For me it was some Tony Hawk Pro Skater game.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
Seb: That’s a difficult one! I’d say either Colin H. Van Eeckhout (Amenra) or Siegfried Burroughs (Doodseskader, Onmens…) for some real nice vocals. Or Oyaarss for awesome hybrid electronic stuff. Or Russian Circles’ Dave Turncrantz if he’d want to hang out in Europe for a while.
Simon: I could add to this list, but let’s first try these. Or Scott Kelly (Neurosis).
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Seb: ArcTanGent really has awesome line-ups each year. Rock solid line-ups would be the best argument for a festival I’d say. And we could get there without flying, which is a good thing.
Simon: Yeah, well something eco, anti-fascist and not too mainstream. I heard Brutal Assault was cool too.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Seb: Well, that’s not super weird, but a guy kept on buying beers for me after a show when I kept telling him we got the beers for free. I guess it’s just the act of giving. Or he was also really into the venue.
Simon: This is also not really a gift, but one guy told us we sound like Pink Floyd. I love Pink Floyd, we all do, but I don’t think we sound anything like them. I assume it’s a compliment though. A gift of words.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Seb: Take care of our planet and its inhabitants!
Simon: And buy our stuff. It’s ecological.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Seb: Ian Curtis seemed like a guy to have an amazing chat with.
Simon: There are enough people on this planet already. Let them enjoy their death.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Seb: Playing together with the mates when we’re all feeling it and the sound is right is one of the best possible feelings. But maybe the very best is composing a song that to you sounds just as good as your favourite tracks.
Simon: And touring with the gang. That’s what I enjoy, not hate, just to clarify. I sometimes hate the ego’s you come across in this business.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Simon: No ethics: how the industry tolerates being a complete piece of human shit. If you arrive drunk at work and start talking shit to everyone, you’d get fired at most jobs. In this industry that makes you a ‘Rockstar’, or troubled mind…
I mean look at the Tim Lambesis story. He hired a hitman to murder his wife. The hitman luckily was a cop (luckily only in this specific case). Lambesis gets released from prison after merely 3 years and he immediately gets to play huge venues all around the world again.
Or how everyone, without even listening to the guy, knew Lil’ Peep was depressed and a danger to himself. Yet his label & management insisted on him touring, making them more money, instead of putting him in rehab, instead of helping the guy.
Disgusting industry with no ethics whatsoever. But that’s not unique to this industry.
Seb: Good answer.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Seb: “Elil” by Fall of Efrafa.
Simon: “Meddle” by Pink Floyd.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Seb: Well, nothing’s better than a lossless audio file I’d say. And it’s kind of ecological I’d assume. But vinyls are no doubt really nice to handle. I also like using my grandfather’s reel to reel tape deck.
Simon: I don’t own any outdated music playing thingies. But still, I agree.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Seb: I agree with what Simon is going to say!
Simon: With the current formation of the band, we have yet to play real gigs (if you don’t count live sessions). But gigs while on tour are always the best ones. It’s way easier to connect with the audience, with the people (also after the shows). In Belgium everyone has this “stiff upper lip” kinda mentality.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Seb: I sometimes wonder if I’d lose the use of my fingers or hearing, would I have the strength to study law to become some kind of human rights or animal rights or nature rights lawyer? I always liked novels and was moved by ethics, but nothing could replace what music does for me.
Simon: Being miserable and doing drugs ‘till i died or some other stupid shit probably. Music is my life.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Seb: Ozzy Osbourne, Vladimir Nabokov (can they be dead?), Slavoj Zizek, Wim Helsen…
Simon: And Yob’s Mike Scheidt.
Seb: That would be the best thing to ever happen.
What’s next for the band?
Seb: If the world doesn’t normalise soon, it’ll be recording the second album. Otherwise, just gigging, gigging, gigging. And looking for a new drummer when Weiyan’s residence permit expires.
Simon: True.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Seb: The two of us are pretty much cavemen, luckily the others are tech savvy. We try to be present on all the relevant places: Facebook and Instagram, Bandcamp and Spotify and whatnot. Of course, we like Bandcamp most as musicians, but I guess you kind of need all of them as long as you’re not headlining big festivals.
Seb: The final argument for me would be consistency, making it cake.
Simon: I’m more of a ‘how do you eat it’ kind of guy, so I’d say biscuit. Also, if you share them, or count how many you’ve eaten, you’d sound like a maniac if you’d say, ‘one cake’s too little to share’ or ‘I’ve eaten twelve cakes today’.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Seb: Thank you for yours!
Simon: And just follow our profiles, you’ll be rewarded with great soundtracks to whatever you’re doing.
Joris: Is this where the interview is gonna be held?
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.
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Helsingborg, Sweden based Post-Metal/Sludge band, Kollaps\e. Huge thanks to Daniel Wallenborg & Peter Walefors, 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?
Daniel Wallenborg, Guitar/Vocals
Peter Walefors, Guitar.
How did you come up with your band name?
Daniel: Well, one of my all-time favourite bands are Breach. And they released an album called “Kollapse” some years ago. The title has stuck with me since, maybe because of the fused Swedish and English in one word. So, when we talked about band names this one came up. I added “\” to separate the “Swedish” and “English”. And the idea is also to have songs sung in Swedish. But that is still a work in progress.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
Peter: We are from and around, Helsingborg, Sweden.
Daniel: There used to be a lot of bands from this area. Most noticeable SOILWORK, Darkane, Humanity’s Last Breath. And the scene was pretty good! A few places to play and a decent amount of people showing up. Nowadays it’s pretty thin, I think. Hopefully, it will pick back up!
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Peter: “The Pandemic Sessions”, two song single.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Peter: Cult of Luna, Breach, Norma Jean, Amenra, P.G Lost, Architects, Neurosis and so on…
Daniel: Knut, Isis, Deadguy, Vision of Disorder, Sick of it All, Refused, Machine Head, Type O Negative, Converge, Turmoil, Breach, and a whole lot more…
What first got you into music?
Peter: First time listening to “…And Justice For All” and “Master Of Puppets” got me into playing guitar.
Daniel: I’ve been around music for as long as I can remember. Having two big brothers, I was around their record collections. Everything from Punk to Synth. Either one played any instrument, but I got interested in playing in high school. Bought a bass guitar and 3 weeks later we started a band…
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Daniel: That’s a good question? Tomas from Breach, Tim Singer from Deadguy/Kiss it Goodbye. Kurt Ballou of Converge. Steve Albini. Those are some I can think of right now!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Peter: Big stage at Hellfest, I won’t say no to that.
Daniel: Loudpark, Japan. Japan has always been a dream country to play in.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Daniel: Hmm. don’t know if I’ve been in a band where we received anything what so ever. ☹
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Peter: Get vaccinated and let’s get this show on the road.
Daniel: I’ll second that!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Peter: Tom Searle of Architects, left us way too soon.
Daniel: Probably Kurt Cobain, would have been interesting to see the direction Nirvana would have taken…
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Peter: Playing together with other people, playing live, writing songs. don’t really hate anything about it.
Daniel: Being able to create something. The thrill of sharing your stuff. The dread when its available. Hoping people will like what you do. Hate that I don’t have enough time for music. And I hate writers block.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Daniel: Wow, how to respond to that!? Hehe. I don’t really know! I think it’s too big to break it down to one thing. A lot of moving parts. But maybe less people that will “fuck” you over for a payday. But is that the industry or just the idiocy of humans?!
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Peter: Metallica – “…And Justice For All”.
Daniel: Turmoil – “The Process Of”.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Peter: Doesn’t really matter as long as you support the bands you like and buy the music.
Daniel: Dunno, whatever your preference is, I guess. I like all of it.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Peter: Helltown Festival, 4 crazy 10-year-olds moshing in the front row.
Daniel: Maybe not the best but playing at DOUR Festival, Belgium in 98 in front of 7,000 people.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Peter: You get paid as a musician?
Daniel: Probably doing designs, videos or something like that!
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Daniel: Donald Trump, Dalai Lama, Rasputin, Charles Manson, Steve Jobs.
What’s next for the band?
Peter: Full length album in 2021, and hopefully play some shows!
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Peter: Never tried them, but I’ll say biscuit anyway.
Daniel: A cake that looks like a biscuit?!
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Both: Thank you for taking an interest in our band and spreading the word. We are humbled and forever grateful! If you want to follow us on social media, please feel free!
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
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
