In this exclusive interview, we delve into the mysterious world of Dead Storm Rising, an anonymous trio hailing from the gloomy depths of Seattle. From their formation to the upcoming single "Leo," discover the influences, creative process, and the haunting beauty of darkness that shapes their distinctive sound.
1. Can
you tell us about the formation of Dead Storm Rising and how the project came
to be in Seattle, WA?
I’ve been a
musician in the Seattle area for many years, played with a lot of different
bands, gigged in just about every venue around here. Over time the calling to
do my own thing grew louder… to compose and record music that comes straight
from my soul. I brought my wife in for cello and keys/pads/vocals, and her
brother for lead vocals.
2. Dead Storm Rising is described as an anonymous trio. What led to the
decision to maintain anonymity, and how does it impact the creative process?
First, the
anonymity creates a clear separation from any other projects I am (or have
been) involved with. Second, it serves the aesthetic of our music. It’s hard to
maintain the mystery behind a gothic glower when you’re also known as “Bob from
accounting” by daylight. This project is about the art with no room for
personal egos. By each of us taking on a persona and removing the self/ego, the
focus is firmly placed on DSR as a whole rather than any individual.
3. Your music draws inspiration from Paradise Lost, Lacuna Coil, and Tool.
How do these influences manifest in your sound, and what other musical elements
contribute to the unique blend in Dead Storm Rising's music?
Paradise
Lost has been a favorite of mine for many years. They have evolved so much from
the beginning and explored so many different sounds along the way, but as they
settled back into their doom metal roots (specifically the album “Faith Divides
Us Death Unites Us”) their music resonated strongly with me. I spent time
analyzing it and understanding exactly what made it sound the way it sounds,
and fell in love with the style… naturally, it became a part of my own personal
style. Lacuna Coil’s influence injects more of the gothic metal into the mix,
along with other influences such as Type O Negative, Poisonblack, and Draconian.
4. The upcoming single, "Lullaby," explores real-world misery
within the dreamscape. Can you share more about the inspiration behind the
track and the thematic elements you wanted to convey?
The
inspiration behind this concept is finding escape and solace in the comfort of
our nightmares rather than facing the horrors of the real world. Despite
civilization’s best efforts there’s always a faction that devolves into the
cruelest of human nature, and we turn a blind eye to this; murder, rape, human
trafficking, egregious war crimes, and the suffering the indirect victims of
all of the above must endure. We see it on the news but turn it off, citing it
as “depressing”. We choose to accept this lullaby with which the pain and
suffering of the world sings us to sleep.
5. Gothic metal, doom metal, and progressive influences are evident in your
music. How do you balance these diverse elements to create a cohesive and
distinctive sound for Dead Storm Rising?
It is my
opinion that Gothic Metal and Doom Metal are a perfect pairing. I’ve loved the
gothic aesthetic ever since discovering Bauhaus in the 1988 movie “Night of the
Demons”. It was like nothing I had ever heard and I needed more. It would be
fair to say Stigmata Martyr was the initial seed of Dead Storm Rising. Infusing
this with doom metal allows me to take the creepy and the eerie, and deliver it
with crushing low frequencies and grinding distortion. The progressive
influences show more in the song structure and overall use of dynamics.
6. How does the city of Seattle influence your music and contribute to the
atmospheric and melancholic aspects of your sound?
Given our
somber nature, you could say the Seattle weather makes a contribution to the
atmosphere and melancholy... otherwise it’s the thriving gothic community that
dwells here. There’s really no better place in the United States for us… we are
among family in this place we call home.
7. The haunting beauty of darkness is a recurring theme in your music. How
does this theme play into the overall narrative and emotional landscape you aim
to create in your work?
I’ve always
been attracted to all things dark… heavy music, horror movies, things others
dismiss as disturbing. I’ve never really bought into the mainstream ideas of
life in general; what is acceptable in polite society, how we should look and
what we should wear, how we are expected to conduct ourselves. There’s
excitement in danger and there is beauty in darkness, and this is where we are
coming from.
8. As a studio project, how does the recording and production process
contribute to shaping the sonic identity of Dead Storm Rising?
I write the
songs as a whole rather than individual parts. When I’m working out a guitar
part I’m keeping in mind how it will sound with the keys, bass, drums, strings,
etc, before those tracks are ever laid down. It’s about serving the song and
not any one single instrument. Each part should complement the others without
vying for control. This can be difficult to achieve when writing music as a
group; nobody wants to be stuck playing a “boring” part… but sometimes that’s
what the song needs.
9. Can you share any details about the upcoming debut single,
"Lullaby"? What can listeners expect in terms of musical style and
lyrical content?
Slow and
heavy. It starts with a despondent piano that soon finds itself intertwining
with grinding bass and guitar. Dynamics shift throughout the song, ebbing and
flowing between power and quiet despair.
10. What role do introspection and personal experiences play in shaping the
lyrical content of your songs?
Our songs
hold a magnifying glass over the dark side of humanity, which may lead to
introspection within the listener… we hope it will spark a little thought. We
do not include much in the way of personal experience, other than what we see
in the world around us. Our lyrics explore the villainy contained within
civilization at large, and not so much the expression of personal joy, angst,
or other emotions. If anything, we hope to inspire the listener to accept and
integrate their entire self, darkness and all… only then can we truly be whole.
11. How do you approach the creative collaboration within the band,
considering the anonymity and the diverse influences each member brings to Dead
Storm Rising?
I write
each song from start to finish and record a demo version, keeping some elements
basic, such as the keys, and give Kitsune the freedom to expand on her parts as
she sees fit. After Raze adds his vocals, I may or may not adjust the other
instruments around that. After everything is pretty well solid, I use it as a
reference track and record the final version for mixing and mastering.
12. The themes of despair are prominent in your music. How do you hope
listeners connect with and interpret these emotions conveyed in your songs?
I hope they
will appreciate it for what it is, and that maybe it will encourage people to
think. Again, it’s finding that beauty in the darkness, in the way one might
enjoy a piece of fine art in a museum.
13. Are there any specific messages or experiences you aim to communicate to
your audience through your music, especially in a genre that often explores
darker and more introspective themes?
We hope
that listeners will consider what we are conveying through the lyrics, and look
at things from another point of view… or realize that they are already on the
same page and relate.
14. How do you see the future of Dead Storm Rising unfolding, and are there
any long-term goals or aspirations for the band?
Our goal is
simply to write music that we enjoy, release it, and hope that other people out
there like it as well. We may one day add members to include a full live band,
but for now it’s just the three of us doing what we love while remaining
covertly in the shadows.
15. In what ways do you envision Dead Storm Rising evolving and pushing the
boundaries of the Gothic Doom Metal genre in the future?
As we grow
the songwriting will become tighter, we will settle into our roles more firmly,
and we will continue to refine and perfect what we do. We’re not trying to push
the boundaries of any genre, we’re just looking to develop our sound to achieve
its full potential.
16."Congratulations
on your latest release, 'Leo.' Can you share the inspiration and creative
process behind this track, and how it aligns with Dead Storm Rising's overall
musical vision?"
Last summer a friend of mine approached me about a friend of his from a record label in France (Bitume) that was putting together a Failure tribute album and looking for bands to take on covers. I talked to this guy and agreed to take on Leo from their album Fantastic Planet. Leo is an uptempo grunge style track about a recluse that has trouble relating to other people, and appears to suffer from a great deal of social anxiety. I liked the theme and enjoyed the challenge of adapting it to our style. It’s not typical for our sound as I had to work within the confines of the original song, but we had fun doing it.
Dead Storm Rising - Gothic Doom Metal from Seattle, WA
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