Brain Stem’s latest album, Nullified, delves into existential despair, trauma, and societal collapse. In this interview, the band discusses the album’s themes, influences, and creative process, along with future plans.
1. Nullified
dives into themes of existential despair, societal collapse, and trauma. What
inspired the concept behind the album?
Honestly, this
wasn’t the original plan for the album. We had initially titled it Aftermath,
intending it to be a continuation of our Symptoms of Annihilation EPs. Those
EPs focused on the idea of the world heading toward total destruction, and the
album was going to explore what comes after that. But as we started writing,
something changed—COVID hit, and everything felt different.
About halfway
through the writing process, I began to notice a pattern. Every song I was
writing carried a similar feeling: this heavy sense of existential dread and
inner turmoil. It was like each character in the songs was struggling with
their own form of loss and confusion. That’s when I reached out to the guys and
shared what I was noticing. We realized we needed to shift the album’s
direction and even its name. Nullified felt like the right title, reflecting
that overwhelming feeling of emptiness and the trauma we were all processing during
that time.
2. The album
has a diverse mix of influences, from Cryptopsy to Gojira. How did you approach
blending these styles while maintaining Brain Stem’s unique sound?
Since the
beginning, we’ve never tried to fit into one specific metal subgenre or sound
like any particular band. Each of us comes from different musical backgrounds,
with different walk of life and we’ve always wanted our music to reflect that
diversity. We love a wide range of bands, but ultimately, as long as it’s
metal, that’s what matters to us. When it came time to write, there were no
strict limitations on the riffs or styles we used. That freedom allowed us to
explore different sounds, which is how we ended up with Brain Stem’s unique
style. Every song has its own vibe, and I think that’s what sets us apart—by
not sticking to a specific approach, we’ve maintained our own identity.
3.
“Intergalactic Cattle” is a standout track with a scathing critique of
humanity’s exploitation. Can you dive into the meaning behind this song and how
it came to life?
Intergalactic
Cattle was definitely one of the more intense songs to write. The concept of
humans being turned into livestock for aliens really left an impression on me.
There’s a strange, almost darkly comical element to it, but the more I thought
about it, the more terrifying it really became. I consume a lot of media—TV,
films, documentaries—and often find myself reflecting on what I watch to draw inspiration from it. One day, I came across this documentary about cruel farming practices, and it
kind of really hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Don't get me wrong, none of us are
vegan or anything, but It really made me wonder, "What if we were the ones
being bred for consumption, with no say in our fate, no control over our
lives?" That’s what inspired the song—the bleakness of being reduced to
nothing more than meat.
4. “The Blood
Witch” brings in folklore elements. What’s the story behind this track, and how
does it fit into the overall theme of Nullified?
The Blood Witch
was loosely inspired by a film I watched called Apostle on Netflix. There’s
this entity in the movie that's being fed blood and helps the crops grow on
this isolated, cult-like island. I don't know why, but I really enjoyed that connection between blood and nature, so I
decided to incorporate that into the song.
It tells the
story of a woman condemned as a heretic by her cult’s prophet. After being
gutted and losing her unborn child, she’s consumed by rage and despair while
clinging to her life. As her blood seeps the earth, and that's where nature
comes in and start becoming one with her, transforming into the island’s blood
witch. It’s similar to the Red Lanterns from DC’s New 52, where immense rage
fuels their transformation. I wanted to capture that fury and connection to
nature in the song, tying it into Nullified’s themes of emotional destruction
and trauma.
5. The
technical precision on this album is intense. What were some of the biggest
challenges in writing and recording such intricate material?
Honestly, I wish
I could say we faced big challenges during the writing and recording, but we
really didn’t. We had the luxury of time—there was no rush to get it out, so we
wrote at our own pace until the album was complete.
For recording, we
worked with a local engineer, which allowed us to create our own schedule
around our full-time jobs. There was no pressure to be in the studio non-stop,
so we worked at a pace that suited everyone. I think that’s actually what
helped make the album so precise: we had time to perfect the writing, take our
time in the studio, and even send mix notes back and forth
for over a month until we were all 100% happy with it.
6. The album
is being released through CDN Records. How has the partnership with them
influenced this release, and what do they bring to the table for Brain Stem?
Working with CDN
Records has been amazing. Craig doesn’t try to steer your music in any specific
direction, nor does he try to take control of the rights. It really feels like
we have complete freedom with our music, and that’s something I truly value as
an artist. I think the partnership was crucial in bringing our vision for the
album to life while keeping the process stress-free. I really don't think we
would of been able to push as much as we did on certain aspect of the album had
we not have CDN behind us.
7. You’ve
shared the stage with some heavy-hitting bands in the extreme metal scene. How
have those experiences shaped your sound and approach to live performances?
We always try to
learn from the bands we play with, whether it's their energy, stage presence,
or performance style. Every show is an opportunity to improve, and those
experiences are essential for our growth as a band. No matter where we are in
our journey, I think there’s always gonna be room to get better in one way or
another.
8. The video
for Nullified’s single is crushing. Can you tell us more about the visual
concept behind it and what you wanted to convey?
Honestly, we
didn’t have a specific vision when we started. It all came together quickly
after Alex reached out online looking for a local videographer. We got in touch
with Logan and Phillip from Shadowscape Pictures, chose Intergalactic Cattle as
the single, and handed them the song and lyrics. We really wanted to give them
the creative freedom to bring their own vision to life with what we had, and
we’re glad we did. From the location to the color scheme, everything just felt
perfect, and it aligned with the song’s energy in a way we couldn’t have
planned.
9. With
Nullified releasing on April 17th, what’s next for Brain Stem? Any upcoming
tours, collaborations, or special projects fans should look out for?
With the release
of the album and all the effort that went into it, we’re definitely aiming to
be more active than we’ve been in the past. In the past, we played maybe 3-4
shows a year, but this year, we’re pushing to take Nullified further and get
out of our local scene. Right now, we’re still based mainly in Alberta, Canada,
but we’re hoping to take the album on the road and play in new places soon.
There are a few things in the works, and we’re excited to see where it goes.
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