Michigan-based One With The Riverbed unveils Succumb, a transformative album that deepens their blackened post-metal fusion and captures raw, reflective human experiences.
1. "Succumb"
marks your second full-length release. How do you feel the band has evolved
musically and emotionally between your debut and this new album?
Our first
release, Solace, was establishing our sound. Succumb reflects seven years of refining that sound
and exploring new ideas.
2. Your
music combines the corrosive elements of black metal with the expansive
landscapes of post-metal. Can you describe the process of blending these
contrasting styles to create such a dynamic sound?
It’s intentional. We enjoy exploring various
styles of music, so we aim to bring those elements together.
3. The
single "Infested" is a powerful introduction to Succumb. What inspired this track, and how
does it set the tone for the rest of the album?
It starts
on a bombastic note and captures all the places we explore on the album in a
single track. The opening tracks on our previous releases were more of a slow
burn, so this time we wanted to take a different approach.
4. The
emotional intensity in songs like "Dominion" and "Purified"
is palpable. How do you tap into and express such deep emotions through your
music?
When we’re trying to convey an emotion, it can be a
time-consuming process to find the right notes and structure the song in a way
that makes sense—and is also enjoyable for us to play.
5. Your
lyrics and soundscapes explore internal and dreamlike worlds. Can you talk
about the themes that run through Succumb and what you hope listeners will take away from the experience?
Succumb largely centers on the theme of
life’s cyclical nature, a theme also present in our previous releases, Solace
and Absence. However, Succumb focuses specifically on humanity
and our shared experiences. Themes like nostalgia, memory loss versus memory
gained, and forming community through circumstance are a few examples
6. The
band hails from Kalamazoo, Michigan, an area known for its natural beauty. How
does the environment around you influence your music, both in terms of sound
and atmosphere?
As a group,
we all enjoy the outdoors. When we first discussed starting the band, we met at
a local nature preserve.
7. Post-metal
and black metal often convey feelings of vastness and isolation. How do you
balance the overwhelming scale of your sound with the intimate emotions
expressed in your songs?
Our
approach to songwriting is to let the music drive the emotion of the song and
allow it to progress naturally.
8. With
your roots in 2017, One With The Riverbed set out to push the boundaries of
post-metal. What challenges have you faced in pursuing that goal, and how do
you continue to push those limits with Succumb?
For us,
it’s primarily about pushing the boundaries of what we consider post-metal.
Since we each enjoy a wide range of genres, part of this process is combining
our individual influences to move our sound forward. It’s not necessarily a
challenge, but more about evolving our sound in a way that feels true to us.
9. What
role does each band member play in the songwriting process? How do you all
collaborate to bring such complex and emotionally charged compositions to life?
Whether it’s an idea we come up with during practice or
one that someone brings in, there’s
always room for each member to expand on it in their own way.
10. With Succumb releasing on October 25th, what are
your hopes for the album’s
reception, and how do you plan to connect with your fans through live
performances and future projects?
We’re excited to incorporate our new songs into
our live sets. There are several we haven’t performed live yet.
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