Dead Storm Rising crafts brooding, emotionally charged music from the shadows of the studio. Their latest release, a haunting Mindfunk cover, showcases their devotion to honesty, weight, and unfiltered expression.
1. Dead
Storm Rising is a studio-based project that prioritizes music over individual
recognition. How does this philosophy shape your creative process and artistic
identity?
I believe this philosophy allows us to serve the music rather than the
individual. Not every part needs to be complex or attention-grabbing. Often,
the most effective choice is the simplest. When self-interest takes over,
there’s a tendency to overplay in search of validation. We're not here for
that. Each song gets exactly what it needs; nothing more, nothing less.
2. "11 Ton Butterfly" is a tribute to Mindfunk. What made this
particular track the right choice for you, and how did you reinterpret it
through the Dead Storm Rising lens?
I’ve been a fan of Mindfunk since the early ’90s. When Dropped was released, I
picked up the CD after hearing only the lead single, Goddess. The rest of the
album exceeded expectations, but I was naturally drawn to the darker, more
desolate tracks. Given events in my life, 11 Ton Butterfly felt like the right
choice when Bitume approached me about the tribute.
3. The song holds deep personal meaning for Wraith due to the loss of
someone close to suicide. How did that emotional connection influence your
approach to the cover?
The connection fed directly into the feeling of the song. There was no need to
fabricate or interpret grief - it was already present, unflinching and
unapologetic. This track is a confrontation with that feeling of loss.
4. Your sound is described as dark and brooding. What emotions or atmosphere
were you aiming to capture with this release?
Isolation. Guilt. Fragility under pressure. The weight of memory and regret.
Our sound pulls the listener into that space… not to escape, but to sit with
it, and let it speak.
5. You mentioned incorporating Alice in Chains-style vocal harmonies. What other artists or musical elements influenced your take on this song?
The Alice in Chains-style harmonies were a natural fit once Raze began laying down the vocals. Kitsune’s work on those harmonies was exceptional, she really nailed the feeling we were after. The overall sound remains rooted in doom metal, with Paradise Lost as our primary influence. For this track, we pulled back on our gothic metal elements to stay as true as possible to the original heavy grunge sound.
6. The track was recorded in Wraith’s home studio and mixed/mastered by Stephan Hawkes in Hollywood. Can you share insights into the production process and your experience working with Stephan?
I’ve always been a proponent of DIY recording. It gives me the space to step back, live with the track, and make necessary changes, whether it's adding a new part or completely reworking something that doesn’t sit right. I first worked with Stephan Hawkes on another project, where his mastering was phenomenal, and he was easy to work with during revisions. After discussing this project with him, we decided to try having him mix and master the whole thing. The result was exactly what we were hoping for, and we’ll definitely continue working with him.
7. As a studio-only project, you focus entirely on production rather than live performances. Do you feel this gives you more creative freedom, and do you have any future plans to evolve this approach?
I wouldn’t say it gives us more or less creative freedom; it’s simply the way we work. My goal is to create music I want to hear, without the pressures of live performance and audience expectations. I hope listeners enjoy it, but ultimately it’s about being satisfied with the music I create. We’ve discussed the possibility of live shows, but it would have to be more than just a performance, it would have to be a full-on experience. We would consider it if there’s a real demand, but we’ve no interest in playing to empty rooms or doing bar gigs with low turnout.
8. Seattle has a deep musical legacy, particularly in alternative and grunge. Has the city’s musical culture influenced your work in any way?
Seattle’s musical legacy is undeniable, and it’s been a major influence on me as a musician. I’ve spent nearly 20 years playing here, exploring metal, rock, grunge, and punk—each genre has its own space here, but they all blend into the unique atmosphere of this city.
9. "11 Ton Butterfly" is part of the upcoming tribute compilation
‘Dropped from the Sky’ by Bitume Prods. How did you become involved with this
project, and what does it mean to you?
A few years ago, a mutual contact introduced me to Bitume for a tribute to the
band Failure. I contributed a track for that compilation, and they invited us
back for the Mindfunk tribute. We’ll also be providing a track for their next
tribute, set for release in 2026. As for who that tribute is for, that will
have to remain a mystery for now.
10. For listeners discovering Dead Storm Rising through this release, what
should they know about your artistic vision and approach to music?
Our vision is to explore the hidden, the decayed, and the unspoken. The music
will always be heavy, and the lyrics will remain dark. It's meant to evoke
emotion and provoke thought on the things we typically turn away from.
11. Since you don’t perform live, do you have any upcoming releases or
collaborations that fans can look forward to?
We have a few original tracks lined up for recording soon, and as I mentioned,
we’ll also be contributing to the next tribute compilation from Bitume.
12. What do you hope listeners take away from your version of "11 Ton
Butterfly"?
The weight is real. It doesn’t disappear when someone takes their own life; it
transfers to those who loved them. Just as a butterfly moves effortlessly
between flowers, this burden moves with the same quiet inevitability, touching
everyone it impacts.
Dead Storm Rising - Gothic Doom Metal from Seattle, WA
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New Music from Dead Storm Rising
11 Ton Butterfly - Single - Album by Dead Storm Rising - Apple Music
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