Eternal
hails to you, the power metal bringers!!! What brought you together and
why are you playing the music that you are playing?
- What brought
us together as DESTINY’S END was and is the desire to play some honest,
powerful and melodic TRUE HEAVY METAL with no compromises. We're
playing metal because this is the music that runs in our veins; all of
us have been listening to it since we were young kids, and we've all felt
that playing our instruments was our calling in life. I can't even begin
to think of what else I'd be doing (aside from writing) other than playing
guitar. Metal allows us to be creative and express our emotions, getting
our aggressions out in a positive way--through music.
The rest
of the band:
James Rivera
- vocals
Dan DeLucie
- guitars
Nardo Andi
- bass
Brian Craig
- drums
Who
is responsible for most of your lyrics and what is the philosophy behind
the album?
- Dan, James,
Brian and I are all responsible for the lyrics on “BREATHE DEEP THE DARK”.
The album's loosely conceptual. We didn't set out to release a concept
album, but somehow all of the songs just seemed to come together with similar
themes. The main focuses on “BREATHE…” are individuality and seeking immortality
through various means (how you'll be remembered after you're dead). They're
all part of the ultimate questions of life and death--why we do what we
do while we're alive.
What gives
you inspiration in music and lyrics as well as when it comes to Life itself?
- I'm influenced
both by personal experiences and things I read. Dan, Brian and I do a lot
of reading, and I think that really comes through in our lyrics. A certain
place or situation in the real world sometimes conjures up images for lyrics
or a mood for a new tune. Experiencing new places and things in the world
always gives one more fuel for living. Our first U.S. tour is just a small
example (a totally amazing one at that)! Anything that provokes strong
emotions can feed our creative sides.
How often
and how much do you drink (or take other *drugs*); does it reflect on your
creations in any way? What would be your advice on the best way to get
drunk as fuck? (*just kidding*)
- I'm a social
drinker, which means I have a few beers every once in a while. It's cool
for me to mellow out like that sometimes, but alcohol and other substances
aren't right for everyone. For some the recipe for an instant asshole merely
means adding alcohol. I have a few beers in *moderation*, not excess. I'm
in a metal band to play music, not to party endlessly. Partying every once
in a while is fine, but I don't do it every day. Call me square, but drugs
and alcohol aren't my thing. If you ask me they're both a good way to ruin
the valuable relationships one has with one's bandmates, family and friends.
Some people are really high-strung and need a little herb to mellow them
out. But I don't. I'm high on playing metal and life itself!
What can
you say about the German and the American power metal scene? What do you
think about such acts as ANGRA, GAMMA RAY and others of that ilk?
- Obviously
the Europeans have always been more into true metal than Americans. And
they've stuck with it all along. People in the States are all too often
concerned with trends. That means things that are temporary. The American
masses love fads, things that are "cool" for the moment. Beneath the surface
there has been a strong underground in the U.S. going all along. The nineties
have really weeded out those who are truly metal in the U.S. Lately I've
been seeing quite a few U.S. true metal bands popping up, reuniting or
continuing to go strong. It's a very good sign. Here in the U.S. bands
like ICED EARTH, NEVERMORE, DEATH, HAMMERFALL (hey,
they’re Swedish! – Silvanus), SAVATAGE
and JAG PANZER have been doing a lot for the state of metal in the nineties.
We toured the U.S. with ICED EARTH and NEVERMORE for a month starting May
5. NEVERMORE unfortunately left the tour after two weeks, but it's was
a genuine pleasure playing on the same stage as one of my favorite true
metal bands of the 1990s, all three bands joining in for the cause of the
music we love most. Dan and Brian are both big fans of Brazil's ANGRA
and Germany's GAMMA RAY, but I'm not as into them as they are. My favorite
German band is KREATOR, so as you can see I'm usually not one for anything
that sounds too "happy". But I say more power to bands like ANGRA and GAMMA
RAY; they're still metal and can only make things better for the rest of
us. I prefer darker bands.
What are
your plans for the near future and how do you see yourselves after 10 years
pass?
- To record
our second album in fall '99, after we return from doing the Wacken Open-Air
Festival in Germany in August. We're doing a two week tour out there with
WARDOG (U.S.) and SACRED STEEL (Germany). Also, my friends SLOUGH FEG are
supposed to open up for us a few times. I can't wait! Once the new album's
out, hopefully we'll get a world tour happening. Maybe with ICED EARTH
or NEVERMORE again... Ten years down the road I can see DESTINY’S END continuing
to play some no-comprise metal, just as we are now. I think every one of
us looks up to the way the guys from IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST have
kept at it for over twenty years. We can only hope we'll get to their level!
What are
your 3 favorite albums of all times?
- DEATH –
“HUMAN”
FATES
WARNING – “AWAKEN THE GUARDIAN”
SAVATAGE
– “SIRENS”
Tell me
about your live shows... Any cover versions? Any HELSTAR stuff? How
long do your gigs last? Would you agree that indoor clubs are better
for power metal than big stadiums or / and festivals? What about doing
a tour in Russia?
- We're into
being tight live, putting as much energy into it as possible to get
the audience going. Nardo (Andi, our bassist) is a particularly energetic
guy live, and he really gets the crowd going aside from James vocal antics.
We usually play between 45 minutes and an hour and a half (now that we
have some new material and covers to play). Since we've never played stadiums
I can't say much about them yet. I'll tell you when we get to Wacken in
August! It's sure to be a killer experience. Hopefully someday we'll make
it to the rest of Europe, including Russia. We've been known to pay homage
to JUDAS PRIEST and MAIDEN every once in a while on stage.
What is
your dream? What do you want to achieve through your life and music?
- To be able
to survive comfortably without having to work a 9-5 job, hopefully through
my music and writing/editing. I hope that I'll be able to leave behind
a legacy of words and music during my lifetime, so that people will be
able to dig the stuff up in the future and glean something from them, the
same way I've learned from authors like H. P. Lovecraft, Frank Belknap
Long and Clark Ashton Smith--as well as metal guitarists who met untimely
deaths like Criss Oliva (SAVATAGE), Dave Pritchard (ARMORED SAINT) and
Randy Rhoads.
What are
your hobbies apart from music? What do you do when you don't play / rehearse
/ compose DESTINY'S END stuff?
- As I said
before, I love to read, write, edit and publish. I run a small press publishing
business called Tsathoggua Press, through which I've put out several chapbooks
(small booklets) thus far. Most of the stuff I've published is either by
or about the masters of horror and fantasy fiction (Lovecraft, Long, Smith,
etc.). I've edited collections of poetry and prose for other small presses
as well. Some of my stories, poems and articles have been published in
various magazines, both large and small press. I collect books, pulp magazines
(which were around roughly between 1920 and 1954) and records (metal, progressive
rock, heavy psych and horror film soundtracks). I'm a total horror film
nut, as well. My favorite filmmakers are Dario Argento, George Romero,
John Carpenter and Don Coscarelli.
What do
you like and hate most of all?
- I like
living my life by my own path, not following trends or anyone else's preconceived
notions about what "normality" is. I guess that pretty much sums up what
I hate too. Superficiality sucks!
Any last
words for your fans and the readers of VAE SOLIS?
- Think for
yourself! Keep the metal flowing. Visit our website (www.destinysend.com),
and support the music you believe in.
DESTINY’S
END contact –
Email: perry@destinysend.com