This interview is very different to
the others I’ve published over the years on the blog. This is a
two-part interview published as one big interview with Aussie
Doom-Gazers – SKULLCAVE.
Skullcave have just released their
stunning debut album – FEAR. I reviewed this album earlier today
which you can read here.
Skullcave’s blend of music is a
mixture of Alternative Metal, Grunge, Post-Metal, Sludge, Stoner,
Doom and Post-Metal. The band classify themselves as DOOM-GAZE.
Though I think there’s much more to the band than that description.
The album is in two parts as I
originally did the interview in two parts.
The first part is for when the band
were releasing their new single – FEAR TO HIDE
The second part is for the when the
band released their debut album – FEAR
Unfortunately time got in the way as
I took most of October off to focus on other things. So apologies to
the band for not publishing the review sooner.
So here’s the two-part interview
with SKULLCAVE
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Skullcave
Interview (FEAR TO HIDE Single Interview)
Hi
guys. Thanks for doing this interview. How are things with you today.
Congratulations on your new album and single.
Thank
you! Things are good.
Can
you give a brief history of how the band formed and where it is
today.
We
formed out of an old band of ours. Jay and I been playing together
for about 10 years now. We are a very different band now.
How
would you describe the music that Skullcave creates. As there are
many different elements and levels to your overall sound.
We
use the term doom-gaze. We are definitely a genre-mashing band, which
is fun, but I consider us a rock band at the end of the day. It was
inevitable for us to go beyond what we were previously doing in our
previous bands. I love a challenge, musically speaking & melodies
are just as fun as heavy riffs.
Where
did you get the name for Skullcave. As it’s a very cool and
original sounding name.
We
took it from The Phantom, Jay is a big comic/graphic novel/general
art enthusiast. So honestly, nothing original about it at all.
You
have just released your new single – Fear To Hide – from your
forthcoming new album- FEAR. What is the song about and what can
people expect from this song.
Lyrically,
the song talks about dependence on social media & what it can do
to your mind if you spend too much time thinking about it. But
musically, it is very progressive in mood and carries you to a few
places. There is some big riffs and intense sections, balanced by
layered vocals & floating melodies.
It’s
quite a spectacularly heavy and epic song. Does the rest of the album
follow the same structure as Fear To Hide.
There
are similarities and themes that are cohesive throughout the album
but I don’t think any of the songs follow the same structure to be
honest. The album is a little bit epic, though.
You
have an upcoming gig to celebrate the release of Fear To Hide. What
can people expect from that gig if they are in the neighbourhood.
Lots
of crap cars parked on the street, loud bands and battle jackets.
Will
you be performing any-more gigs to promote the new single or upcoming
new album.
We
have an album launch in October but not much until then after the
single launch.
Do
you have an active scene to perform gigs on a regular basis. Or do
you have to travel further afield to perform gigs.
We
have a very active scene & we’re lucky to be a part of it
because the bands we play with are really good and also mates. Its
hard putting on shows but people still want to do it and some people
do them well & people have a great time.
Australia
has a well-respected Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal scene within the
international community. Some great bands have released awesome
albums over the last few years. Do you take notice on how Australian
Heavy Music is perceived on an international scale.
I
don’t think I notice that much but some of our friends bands do
really well overseas and that is amazing to think about considering
where we are in the world. There’s a lot of bands. I mean a LOT of
bands in the world, so the fact that anyone is talking about us is a
good thing.
What
is your own verdict on the Australian Heavy Music scene.
GOOD.
Best
of luck with the new single. We’ll catch up again in September when
your new album is released. As I have more questions to ask you. So
speak then.
Cheers,
mate!
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Skullcave
Interview (New Album Interview)
Hi
guys. Good to hear from you. Been a few months since we last spoken.
How are things with you today..
Hey
mate! Today was a good day. We shipped all the pre-orders for FEAR
out & those people will have records by Monday hopefully!
When
we last spoke, you had just released your new single – Fear To
Hide. What was the reaction like to that single and were you pleased
with the overall reaction the single received.
Great
response so far. People seemed to get right into the epic vibe and we
are stoked with that.
You
performed a gig back in June to celebrate the launch of the single.
How did that gig go.
It
was great, we played new material at a small house party show and it
was exactly that.
You’re
about to release your new album – FEAR. What can people expect from
this album.
More
epic vibes, heavy riffs, some nice then mean vocals, drums, guitars,
the whole deal.
Why
did you call the album FEAR.
It
is such a pure emotion. It can be so huge and real and frequent for
some or tiny things that don’t really matter.
What
is the main concept of the album.
Fear.
All of it. It might be a mild fear of flying or fear of snakes for
some but ours came from everywhere all at once. It was very real and
shitty 12-18 months for us before and during the album writing
process.
Was
recording the album an easy or hard experience.
It
was an easy going environment & a great time but recording is
always challenging. Recording so many vocal layers was tough for me
to smash out in like two days.
You
have a lot of different styles on this album. Doom, Noise, Sludge,
Post-Metal, Psych and Prog Rock. How would you class your own music
as.
I
consider us a rock band at the end of the day, but we like the term
doom-gaze, it explains the vibe really well.
When
you’re creating new music. What comes first. The music or the
lyrics.
Music,
always.
What
is the songwriting dynamic within the band. Is it a group collective
or down to one individual.
Jay
starts with blueprints on guitar and then we approach them together
in the jam room for ages until we consider it together enough to put
vocals on, then I take it home and work on melodies. Generally,
speaking.
Who
is releasing the album and what formats will the album be released
on.
Art
As Catharsis on digital and 12”Vinyl LP!
Will
you be touring this record heavily in Australia. Or will you be
focusing on gigs closer to home.
To
be honest, we can’t afford it right now, but when something comes
up that is worth it, we’ll know. Hopefully more touring
opportunities open up for us next year. It’s incredibly expensive
to tour when you are from Perth.
What
is your current equipment/setup when recording music and playing
live.
We
are a three-piece, guitar bass and drums live. I am the lead vocalist
and drummer, and we all share back up vocals. There’s no samples or
triggers, we like to keep it simple. Although, I like the structure
and challenge of playing separately to slightly varied tempos in the
studio to create a more layered, produced sound.
Thanks
for doing this interview. Before you go do you have any words of
wisdom to say to your fans.
You
gotta cough to get off.
Words
by Steve Howe and SKULLCAVE
FEAR is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now via Art As Catharsis.