Our newest feature here at Scene Point Blank is our semi-daily quickie Q&A: One Question Interviews. Follow us at facebook or twitter and we'll post one interview every Monday-Thursday. Well, sometimes we miss a day, but it will be four each week regardless.
After our social media followers get the first word, we'll later post a wrap-up here at the site and archive 'em here. This week check out Q&As with Bl'ast, Samothrace, Disappears and Pelican.
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Clifford Dinsmore (BL'AST)
SPB: When you found the Blood tapes, did you think it was possible to remaster them to the point you achieved with the final released product?
Clifford: We never imagined it would sound as heavy as it does now! But, when you consider all the contributing factors, like Will's tracks being brought back to life, and all the great people and close friends that were in the studio lending their ears and opinions. You throw that in with the great production team of Dave Grohl, Lou, Brad Boatwright, and Greg Anderson, mix that with a little bit of good, old fashioned dumb luck (there was fear of the tapes not being usable) and you have a pretty solid explanation of how it all went down.
Bryan Spinks (Samothrace)
SPB: How did you get so bloody heavy?
Bryan: I suppose it is a culmination of some different things. Obviously the riffs have to be solid. Tone is a huge factor, too. I, as many guitarists do, have spent the past 20+ years searching for the proper tone from my amps and cabs. It took a long time and a lot of trial and error to finally find the warmth I needed when I was a younger musician. Having us all dialed into a proper and "heavy" tone is crucial. Life itself is another part of creating what you'd consider the heavy. It has been hard and heavy times for me and some of my band mates in one way or another since long before Samothrace even came together. I write riffs and lyrics that reflect that. Promote hope and something positive thru life's despair because that is something that I do truly know about. Heavy music for heavy times... We've been saying that since day one.
Brian Case (Disappears)
SPB: How was your experience recording at Electrical Audio?
Brian: Electrical Audio is such a great studio: both comfortable and top of the line. Everything works, the staff is hospitable and knowledgeable and it has a vibe and atmosphere that allow for creativity and experimentation. Every band I've been in has recorded there and I plan on being back as soon as we have enough songs hahahaha.
Dallas Thomas (Pelican)
SPB: How would you summarize the Chicago heavy scene?
Dallas: Chicago has had a really strong scene for awhile now. Maybe one reason is that you have to survive the city before a band has a chance plug in and crank it up. Practice rooms are not cheap here, so it forces a level of focus and commitment to get to work when you finally have a place to rage. But ultimately it is the Chicago winter that I would say inspires many a local to spew down-tuned darkness...
Some Fine Examples:
Atlas Moth, Bloodiest, Lord Mantis, Anatomy of Habit, Oxblood, Sweet Cobra, Russian Circles, War Brides, Encrust, Indian, Electric Hawk, Yakuza, Bongripper.
