Hurt Newsletter Interview
Hurt News - When did Die My will come together? Who started the band?
Brandon - Die My Will first started playing together in January of 1996. It all started coming together while Rob, Jeff and I were doing a few reunion shows with a band we had all played in a couple years earlier. At the time I had written 5 or 6 songs for a new band I was looking to start. I played the songs for them and that was it. A couple of months later Todd moved back to CT and was looking to start a label and join a band. He started playing bass for us and our first CD was released on his label, Drawn & Quartered Records.
Hurt News - Your sound is extremely dark and heavy. What's key to getting it that way?
Brandon - I think the key to our sound is that we tune down so low that our guitars actually don't function properly. The distance between notes actually changes and I think it gives our chords a dissonant sound. Also we try to keep our guitars as unprocessed and raw as we can, we use nothing more than amp distortion and a e.q.
Hurt News - I can trace slight tinges of Death Metal and Hardcore in your music. Who Your influences?
Brandon - Our influences are really broad actually. When I wrote the songs for the CD on Drawn & Quartered I was listening to everything from Grave and Bolt Thrower to Integrity and Sick of It All. And as far as other influences on the band go, pretty much any band you can possibly think of, one of us at least appreciates.
Hurt News - Your lyrics are eerie and intense, Where do you look for inspiration?
Brandon - I write when I am angry or depressed. I tend to spend too much time in contemplation. Basically, I write about things that stir up emotions in me, things that effect me, and things that piss me off. I think the whole process of writing lyrics helps me find answers to some of my questions, or at least let me realize what I am really thinking.
Hurt News - What's the concept behind the song Homunculus?
Brandon - Wow, that's a tough one. The song actually has a ton of different meanings and concepts within it. Some that I don't even think I can explain without writing a novel, but I will try to explain it as best I can as quick as I can. The song deals with the commonality of people looking for absolute truths, by which to live their lives. I think that most people, as I do, look for answers to everything in order to gain comfort in life. So we tend to put our trust or faith both consciously and unconsciously into different schools of thought and then disconcern ourselves with other contradictory concepts. Whether it is religion, logic or science, they represent the same thing for me. They are concepts we have constructed to deal with phenomenon that we can't understand without such framework. I think that it's dangerous to focus all of your beliefs on any one concept or idea. This type of thought process seems to lend itself to very close-mindedness. So the concept behind the song is that different truths by themselves may be useless and non-beneficial, but when everything is taken into account and excepted for what it is, together they can help lead to a very healthy and beneficial mindset. So in the song I tried to address this with imagery from different religious and social beliefs. Homunculus is the name of the man that ancient Egyptians believed lived in a person and controlled a persons health and humor. That's the basic concept behind the song. For me to go through and explain the meaning of all of the lyrics would take far to long and probably put you to sleep.
Hurt News - How's the deal with Pin Drop Records comin along?
Brandon - Everything is looking great, we are doing a full length CD with them that should be out in June of 98. Bill has been great, and the response so far has been awesome.
Hurt News - How did the deal come about?
Brandon - Basically Ian Mcfarland, who is now in Blood for Blood but at the time was in Polyglot, played a few shows with us and really liked our CD on Drawn & Quartered Records. So he gave it to Bill at Pin Drop and put in a good word for us. A few months later we played a show in MA with Holdstrong and Bill approached us right after we played.
Hurt News - How does the newer Die My Will Material compare to the older?
Brandon - I would have to say that the newer songs are more intense. I was listening to the rough tracks a few days ago and I think the music sounds more mature and may have a little more hardcore influence than our first CD. I think that overall the music is faster and more chaotic and you can tell that we have been a band for longer. I think the songs are better structure and better written. Like I said before they are more a mature sounding and I think they have a more defined sound to them.
Hurt News - I noticed recently that your drummer Jeff sat in for Hatebreed on their west coast tour. How did that come together? Are most of you guys in pretty tight with Jamey and the rest of the band?
Brandon - Yeah we are all good friends with Jamey he has helped us out with some shows from time to time. And we have been working on doing some split mailing stuff with his label (Stillborn Records) and ours (Drawn & Quartered).
Hurt News - How is the Connecticut scene? Is there an overabundance of decent acts?
Brandon - I have to say that for such a small state we have a huge amount of good bands. There is a ton of good stuff going on in CT nowadays with no signs of letting up, and the scene is as strong as I can remember it.
Hurt News - What would be the ultimate dream tour lineup for Die My Will?
Brandon - I can't speak for the rest of the band but for me it would be Slayer, Bolt Thrower and Integrity.
Hurt News - Final Comments:
Brandon - I just want to say thanks for the interview and good luck with the hurt newsletter! Everyone else, if you are interested in hearing or booking Die My Will get in contact with me,
Die My Will
c\o Brandon
20 Newell Ave
Bristol, CT 06010
doomsday@snet.net
http://pages,cthome.net/diemywill/
[HOME] [BIO] [NEWS] [SHOWS] [REVIEWS] [RELEASES] [LINKS] [SOUNDS]
[LYRICS] [WEBRINGS] INTERVIEWS
