Q. Your band does have an interesting name – “ Dying Embrace” . Can you tell us how you guys got together?
Thank you for having us on Eight Octaves! The band originally formed in 1991 under the moniker “Misanthrope” sometime around 1996 we changed the name to “Dying Embrace” we were earlier playing Death Metal but as time progressed a lot of Doom Metal influences came into our song writing so we accordingly felt there was a need to change the name of the band and Dying Embrace was born!
Q. What bands inspired you when you were starting out, pre and post-convicted? What do you see as the primary difference in mentality between underground metal bands and the people you hear on the radio?
Our biggest inspirations have been Black Sabbath, Autopsy, Candlemass and early Paradise Lost, these are the four main pillars on which the Dying Embrace sound is built, we have several other individual musical inspirations as well, the primary difference between popular radio and underground Metal band is, the radio caters to the masses while underground Metal bands have a niche following and cater to a specific fan following.
What is your opinion about the “Metal” scenario in India?
Apart from a handful of excellent bands I don’t think there is much to say, the scene is definitely better than what it was say 10 years ago but I think bands have to concentrate and find their own original sound and write better quality compositions without giving much thought for trends or what’s the latest fad.
How does your band feel to be performing at the first ever Bangalore Open Air? Where do you think metal will go next with such gigs?
Its an honour to be part of the first edition of Bangalore Open Air and play along with some of the finest bands from India and of course one of our idols, Kreator! We thank our friends and fans for bringing us this far and also the organisers of BOA for the immense faith is our music. Festivals like these will surely go a long way in helping upcoming bands get an opportunity to showcase their talent as well as interact with the fans.
When you reference the container “metal music” in your head, do you think first of a concept or of sounds?
I think it is an entire package, it is not just a concept or sound which you think about but a complete mind set and frame of thinking which is related to it, also the energy, power and sense of mental rush you get at a live gig, very difficult to put these all into a container and keep your emotions restrained!
When you write music, do you aim for a completed concept, or develop a fragmentary concept and see where it goes? How do you think your lyrics have an impact on the Indian audience?
We are a Doom/Death Metal band and most of our lyrics are growled out so I don’t think many of our listeners are able to follow all the lyrics clearly unless they are listening to a CD at home and following the lyric sheet so am not very sure what the impact is, but the fans seem to love what they are listening to! We usually start with a fragmentary concept and build a song accordingly.
Tell us about one tour/ song close to your band’s heart. Also can you tell us about your forthcoming project that you have in mind?
We have only played locally so there is no tour to talk about, hhaa! We have plans to release a new single this year which we have just written, we don’t make long term plans and like to work on a day to day basis and take things as they come ,better to be close to reality than build grand plans which will never happen.
What would you like to say to the future generation who want to get into metal music? A word of advice?
Cheers & thanks for the support and hope to see you all at Bangalore Open Air!! \m/ Metal & Hell \m/
