Empty Throne’s debut album Unholy blends black, thrash, and death metal with powerful riffs and brutal vocals. Here's a deep dive into their creative process and sound.
Writing is
a lot of emails and heavy abuse of Google Drive and file sharing. With Mike in
Arizona and Gabe in California, we do what we can with file sharing and texting
the shit out of each other during the writing process. This album is
largely material Mike has been the pilot of as far as riffs go and we all take
liberty in applying our ideas and skills. Gabe and J have free rein on their
parts and I do everything lyrically.
2. Empty
Throne blends black, thrash, and death metal. How do you balance these genres
while maintaining a cohesive sound?
To be
honest, we do not spend any time analyzing that aspect...we simply do what
comes naturally. We all come from distinct backgrounds and have plenty of time
in the saddle doing what we do. Empty Throne’s sound is really just a natural
product of what we write as a group. I think the initial vibe we nurtured
opened up doors and our comfort zone to really just say fuck it and do what
feels right without really thinking about what genre we would land in or how
people would try to classify it.
3. The
band has undergone lineup changes, including notable musicians like Mike Smith
and Jack Owen. How have these changes influenced the band's
direction?
I would say no. Mike and Jack are amazing people and good friends. Both are extremely talented and well centered. Empty Throne was born in thr mayhem of post 2020 life...which has been a tornado for everyone...Jack and Mike included. Everyone is fighting to do what makes the most sense for them and their families. No complaints...Gabe is a perfect fit for Empty Throne...he belongs here. A second guitarist would be cool...but it would need to be the right fit.
4. Unholy features
six tracks over 40 minutes. What themes or concepts run throughout the album,
and how do they connect to the title?
The title pretty much sums up what Empty Throne is all about. I like to cover a lot of bases and topics which have in some way stuck a chord or played a role in my life and apply those through innuendo and word play to marry the topic to the song.
5. Gabe
Seeber's drumming is known for its intensity. How did he approach recording
for Unholy, and what challenges did the music present?
Gabe is an
animal. We are lucky to have him. We work through our long distance
relationship extremely well. Gabe has 100% freedom to be himself and do what
feels right. We usually chat in detail about each song, how it flows and what
we feel the mood should be and we all hit it from there. The most difficult
part is probably the length amd complexity of some of the songs. It can be a
difficult balance of flow and consistency without the song becoming a bore. It
takes good communication and effort to keep things flowing.
6. CR
Petit delivers some truly brutal vocals on this album. What were your
inspirations for the vocal style and lyrical content in Unholy?
Firstly,
thank you. I have a lot of vocalists who have inspired me in one fashion or
another as I am sure all vocalists do. From Frank Mullen, LG, Shagrath to Jeff
Walker and Dave Vincent..they have all played a huge roll in inspiration. I am
not sure I come anywhere close to paying time proper homage...but I do my best.
The main mindset I try to keep is to try and apply what my inner ear hears...no
matter how odd or obtuse. If I can make it stick...great...if not, try
something else.
7. Having
members with backgrounds in iconic bands like Possessed, Abbath, and Angerot,
how do those influences come through in Empty Throne’s sound?
Experience
is critical to make Empty Throne work. We all have a large amount of respect
for each other, sp we all want to impress each other with wjat we bring to the
table. Everyone has a roll to play and we have a pretty solid history to pull
from. The beauty is that our separate histories are so vast and robust,
it lends to a final sound that is a bit unique and unpredictable.
8. How
did working with Downfall Records shape the production and release of Unholy? What
was the experience like partnering with them?
So far so
good. I have zero complaints. Mike seems excited to work with us and
really...that is the backbone of wjat it takes. There are a million great bands
out there looking to be heard...so having someone who believes in what you are
doing is critical. There is a wall of static that is nearly impossible to
break through...so thanks to Mike for his willing to see if we can kick a hole
in it.
9. With
your debut album set to release, can we expect any upcoming tours or live
performances to promote Unholy?
Hard to
say. I think we would definitely be down to do a festival or two if those
opportunities arise.
10. Lastly,
what do you hope fans take away from Unholy, and how does this
album set the stage for Empty Throne’s future in the metal scene?
I hope some
take time...throw on some headphones and listen thoroughly. Empty Throne
has a lot going on and a good zone out listen is the way to go. I would hope at
least some walk away with a sense of being refreshed with something new and
unrestricted. Empty Throne has no genre boundaries and there is a hook for most
who dig extreme music. As far as the future, we already have all material
written for the next album...which is absolutely insane. It is hard to hold
back discussing it as I am super excited for it. We will start tracking for
that in the new year. It will definitely be another giant step forward in the
Empty Throne sound. We thank each of you who take time to listen and
share. Cheers. C..R.
Unholy (PRE-order now!) | Empty Throne | Downfall Records (bandcamp.com)
Empty Throne (@emptythrone666) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
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