(Shaun Weller) We all have different approaches to writing and we wanted to mix all of that together to create something unique. I guess the best way to describe it would be post progressive metal. Mixing incredibly heavy and fast parts with ambient passages and beautiful clean parts to truly capture the full gamut of humanity.
2.In October you have your first full length coming out, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on this recording?
(Branson Heinz) I think the primary strength of our band is the same as the primary strength of our hometown: diversity. Every member of the band has a different background and is inspired by a different style of metal. Nick’s inspiration mainly comes from post metal and progressive metal, Andrew’s from progressive and black metal, Shaun’s from doom and punk, and mine from black and death metal. I think it is nice to mirror our hometown in that way. It not only gives us a sound we love, but allows us to relate to our surroundings.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
(Nick Block) Misanthropy, faith, and cosmic horror. Our debut album, The Heavens Are Not On Fire…, is a concept album about the Leonid meteor shower of November 1833 being mistaken for a sign from God in rural West Texas, and the destruction that follows.
(Andrew Caruana) If our album had a subtitle, it would be something along the lines of, “the grave consequences of misapplied dogmatic zeal.”
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Wills Dissolve'?
(NB) Andrew and I are big fans of the band Isis. Wills Dissolve is a track off of their masterpiece, Panopticon. It also means “ego death,” or the loss of self-identity.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?
Cauê Piloto created the beautiful oil painting for our cover art. We provided him with the general guidelines, and he captured the spirit of the album perfectly. The painting best captures the events at the end of the track “on this cold November night”.
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Our favorite shows have been with our friends in Golgothan and Grave Gnosis. The best way to describe our show is a combination of blast beats, heavy torrential bursts of energy, and ambient passages that suck you into a trance.
7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the album is released?
We have plans to do a southeast tour, but nothing is currently scheduled.
8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
(NB) Andrew and I are both acoustical engineers and we were able to record our debut album by ourselves. A label is something we are interested in, but are not actively pursuing.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of underground metal?
(AC) We have thus far received a positive reaction to our demo. Branson is a travel consultant, and has spread, ‘the gospel,” as it were, to people he met all over Asia and Europe. We would randomly get likes from people in Japan or Germany, and knew he was out there getting work done. We are looking forward to hearing the response to our debut since it is being promoted a lot more aggressively.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
(SW) The addition of synthesizers to our sound. Nick and I are very much into synths, but we wanted this first album to be more natural, considering the content of the album, so they didn't make an appearance. The next album's subject matter makes more sense to have synthesizers though, so that will be explored a whole lot more.
(AC) Given what we have already written, I’d say our blend of chaos intermixing with tranquility will only increase in severity. The trick will be to retain flow; great transitions can make or break a concept album.
(NB) Andrew and I are deep into the writing process for the next album. It will also be a concept album, and will have an underwater theme. The thematic writing takes a lot from H.P. Lovecraft, and deals with topics of wonder, isolation, madness, and continuing the general theme of cosmic horror. The music will have more of a prog influence without straying too far from our death/black metal roots.
(BH) In the future, I see us taking our diversified approach to songwriting into a more extreme direction and really exploring the space of our music. Making the ambient parts more ambient, the doomy parts more heavy, and fast parts faster and more technical.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
(NB) Opeth, Pink Floyd, and Isis are my primary influences. I have been listening to a ton of Leprous and Ulver lately, which has been getting me into the right mindset for our second album. I am also constantly spinning Vol 2 from our friends in Father Rust, who should have their third album coming out soon.
(AC) Opeth, Devin Townsend, Dark Fortress, Nevermore, and Alcest are hands down my biggest metal influences. Current favorites for this year would be Yob’s “Our Raw Heart,” and Alkaloid’s, “Liquid Anatomy.”
(SW) A lot of new stuff, Beyond Creation and Behemoth's new album is on the horizon, Obscura's new album just dropped, as did Between the Buried and Me. Just a lot of cool stuff happening right now.
(BH) I’ve personally been branching out to more unique styles of slower metal. I’m a huge fan of bands like Starset and Red Sun Rising and I enjoy listening to them even though I’d be bored playing for them. I’ve also been listening to bands like Ellende, Elderwind, and Portland’s None. Great doom metal mixed with nature exaltation. Still number one will always be black metal for me. I still listen to great amounts of bands like Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Marduk, and Darkthrone. That will always be my primary inspiration.
12.What are some of your non musical interests?
(NB) I am a big craft beer nerd. I also play hockey recreationally.
(AC) Whiskey, Whisky, craft beer, video games, and working out. (running/lifting, etc.)
(SW) Drinking beer and whiskey, and watching anime is essentially how I spend my downtime. Most of my life revolves around music nowadays, so I'm usually engrossed in gear or practice.
(BH) I’m an avid long distance runner and I travel for work and pleasure several times a month both domestically and internationally. I also collect Scotch and Japanese whiskey which I love to drink.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you for this opportunity. We hope everyone takes the time to listen to The Heavens Are Not On Fire… when it is released on October 26.
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