Interview to DETHDAY (Austria)

1.⁠ ⁠Hello my friend, pleasure to have you on Rotten Pages ´zine. How are you doing today? Let us set the scene first. Where do we find you right now? Please describe your surroundings.

Hey man, we’re doing great. Right now we’re in our rehearsal room/studio, planning the setlist for our upcoming gig. The room is crammed with amps, a drum kit, our merch, a fridge full of beer, and our homemade gallow for live performances.

2.⁠ ⁠What prompted you to explore the “Heavy Metal” musical direction, and what attributes do you think that a new Heavy Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?

That’s a funny question. We all listen to very different kinds of music. Somehow, all these influences come together in our sound, and that’s what we really enjoy about it. We believe this mix of different influences is exactly what makes a band unique and distinctive.

3.⁠ ⁠Your debut album, “Dawn Of A New Horizon” delivers a powerful, massive, and melodic sound. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the album and how it felt to release your music to the world?

Most of the songs were written by our former guitarist, who was mainly influenced by bands like Judas Priest, Accept, and other NWOBHM bands.

Releasing the album was a huge relief. It was a long process with a lot of work – and way too much beer and pizza. We’re very proud of the result, especially because the whole album was completely self-produced.

4.⁠ ⁠Are there any external influences on the music? Anything you were listening to at the time – or reading, or watching – which you feel had an effect on the writing process?

Not really. We rehearsed a lot and recorded demos constantly. By analyzing those demos, we figured out what we wanted to change. Once we were satisfied with the songs, we went into the studio to record them.

5.⁠ ⁠I must say, the production on your debut album is quite solid. In which studio did you record it? And who took care of the mixing and mastering?

The album was recorded in our rehearsal space by our drummer, who also handled the editing and most of the mixing. Mike Wolff, a close friend of his, guitarist of Kontrust, and an experienced producer as well as mixing and mastering engineer, supported the process with feedback on the recordings and production. He also took care of the mastering and mixed three songs on the album.

6.⁠ ⁠The artwork for the album is beautiful. What is the concept behind it, and does it link to the story within the lyrics?

Yes, the artwork has a deeper meaning. It shows three knights marching into the “Dawn of a New Horizon” after a bloody war. It reflects the lyrical themes and represents resilience and leaving the past behind.

7.⁠ ⁠As a band, what do you hope listeners take away from your music? What emotions or connections do you aim to evoke through your songs?

We hope our listeners can feel the energy and emotions we put into our music. Our goal is to create a connection – whether that’s motivation, strength, or simply a good time.

8.⁠ ⁠Have you read any reviews regarding the album? Do you care about what critics have to say about your work?

We’ve received several reviews and were happy about the positive feedback. In general, we appreciate constructive criticism and try to learn from it to improve our future work.

9.⁠ ⁠What is your creative routine?

Since we now have our own rehearsal room and don’t have to rehearse at our drummer’s parents’ house anymore, our workflow has become much more efficient. Our in-ear rack is also essential. We use it for click tracks, backing tracks, and to record our rehearsals.

10.⁠ ⁠Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. How has the reception been for your music so far? Have there been any standout moments or memorable experiences you'd like to share?

Our ideal live show is loud, sweaty, and intense – high energy on stage and a crowd that’s fully into it. We love it when people move, shout along, and just lose themselves for a moment. The show at Ottakring Brewery was definitely a standout for us – great crowd, crazy atmosphere, and pure chaos in the best way.

11.⁠ ⁠Would you rather play at a festival for a thousand people where maybe two hundred people are familiar with your music or in a club for two hundred people who know your albums?

It’s always great to play for people who already know and love your music, but playing a big festival is also a dream. You get the chance to reach new listeners, and convincing new people with your music is one of the most exciting parts of being in a band.

12.⁠ ⁠The metal world is known for its intense brotherhood and camaraderie. What’s the craziest and most memorable experience you’ve had as a band so far?

There are a lot of crazy moments, but honestly, some of the best memories are the long nights after shows – sitting together, talking nonsense, drinking beer, and realizing that this chaos is exactly why we do this.

13.⁠ ⁠As a band, how do you navigate the challenges and demands of the music industry? What advice would you give to aspiring musicians based on your own experiences?

As a small band, it’s always hard to succeed in this business. We think it’s important to be clear about why you make music in the first place. Our advice is: do your own thing and don’t care too much about the industry. If people like what you do, success will come over time.

14.⁠ ⁠Now a Random question: If you could be any fantasy creature from any fantasy author’s universe, or from the mythologies of our own world, what would it be and why?

After some discussion, we agreed on a werebear. A human who can turn into a bear is just fucking awesome.

15.⁠ ⁠How do you feel the metal scene has evolved in Austria over recent years, particularly in your own genre?

The scene has become more diverse and supportive. There are many passionate bands and organizers keeping the underground alive, which is really important for the future of metal in Austria.

16.⁠ ⁠Well that was all for now, thanks for taking the time making the interview. I wish you all the best and really hope to see you live on Southamerica soon, stay healthy and safe.

Thank you for having us!

https://www.facebook.com/dethdayband/