1. Hello, Lyndon! Let’s get back to the times when Death Metal was still a pretty new concept. What were the first bands that took your attention? How did it happen?
- I'm pretty sure Cannibal Corpse was the first legitimate death metal band I was introduced to, with Morbid Angel popping up soon after. I had a friend in middle school who was into extreme music and would show me new bands daily. Later on his older brother would sell me old cds of bands like Disinter, Hate Eternal and so many others.
2. Let us start out by learning a little bit more about each of the members, perhaps you can tell us about any strange hobbies or habits that you may have?
-Dan and I have several hobbies outside of music, barbecuing is an obvious one. Dan is a big fan of Warhammer and we're both big Magic: the gathering fans. Maybe those aren't necessarily "strange" for guys like us haha.
3. Dan is the other musician you has recruited to the band. What you enjoy the most about making music together? What is your favourite part of it all?
-The truth is, it was actually Dan who recruited me. The idea for the band was originally his and was meant for he and I to have as a side project next to our band Crater, which was growing less active.
We've been playing music together off and on since we were sixteen years old or so, so there's solid foundation between us as players which makes the creative process very smooth. Plus, this band requires a sense of humor and the ability to not take ourselves too seriously. Even more so, we grew up discovering a lot of the same bands together, so this band definitely serves as an homage to all of that music. The best part is making ourselves laugh while making death metal.
4. Everything related to the band (Cover artworks, pictures, song-titles, merchandise… etc) is associated with BBQ. From where comes this exacerbated taste for the smoked meats and grills?
-Cooking meat over fire or with smoke is an art form. There's a ritualistic aspect to it, which requires patience and attention to detail. There's some major parallels that can be drawn between cooking and making music. It's something we're truly enthusiastic about so I believe it's an incrediblely natural combination, meat and death metal.
5. There is only two members in the band, so I am really curious about how is a live performance of you? Could you explian us how you arrange everything and how crazy your music take form over a stage?
-Our drum tracks are actual samples of Dan's drum kit, which we arrange for songs in pro tools. For the life performance the drums and any other backing tracks are played from the software we use to run our light show, all on a laptop. We've also recently started using in-ear monitors that allow us to utilize a click-track and any other ques we don't need the audience to hear.
6. How is living in Iowa? What’s the metal scene like where you are? Do you think where you are has much of an impact on your music?
-Iowa itself is pretty boring, but there is a large mix of different cultures. The area we live in is basically six or seven smaller cities smashed together between Iowa and Illinois, so we aren't exactly cut off from civilization. There isn't much of a "metal" scene in our immediate area. However regionally, there are quite a few fantastic bands that we've been able to build strong friendships with.
Musically I'm not so sure Iowa has much impact on us. We're not too far from Chicago, so we aren't totally cut off from seeing good tours or shows.
7. What kind of bands you are listening to nowadays? Can you give some names? On the other hand, there can be also new bands that you can recommend for the ugly readers of Rotten Pages zine?
-Dan has been really into Inhuman Condition lately and we've both been really enjoying the latest Psycroptic record. I would definitely recommend our friends Celestial Serpent (from Wisconsin) Toxic Ruin (also from Wisconsin) Frontal Assault (Iowa) and Redivider (from Kentucky)
8. Tell us about the recording sessions for your debut album, how did it go? How long did it take you to finish everything? What kind of feelings do you have at the moment when everything is done, the album is coming out, in general are you personally pleased with the way how the album turned out in terms of production and mixing?
-We are actually about to release our SECOND album! I can't believe it! Haha. Comparing the two, each album took about two years, from the start of writing to pressing the physicals. We're very eager to get the new one out. The feeling, for me, is always the same when we finish something. There's always things I'd go back and change, do differently, whatever. But if we did that we'd never really improve or be able to evolve. I'm really happy with what we have, it's been a process, but the results are well worth almost losing your mind over BBQ DEATH METAL haha.
9. Have you read any reviews regarding the album? Do you care about what critics have to say about your work?
-Ill be happy to know people are talking about it, but I typically don't read reviews. The last album had a few but I honestly don't remember what anyone said haha. I know what people tell us when we play shows and that's what we care about.
10. What makes the perfect Pit Lord song? Is there one on the album in particular that encapsulates this?
-Humor wrapped in death metal riffs. I couldn't just pick one though. My favorite song to play live is probably Skewers of Madness?
11. I´ve noticed you are having several gigs and appearance in festivals. Could you please tell us about this and which bands have had a straight impact on you in general?
- We've been lucky to be asked to play so many cool fests, Full Terror Assault im 2021 being our favorite. As write this we're getting ready to go play with Oxygen Destroyer in Chicago! Every band we get to play with influences us, but I think Toxic Ruin had the most impact on how we wanted to play as a live band.
12. Not sure if you are a drinker, but when playing live do you withhold drinking some beers until you’re finished playing live or do you get loaded before you go on? What is the most difficult part of performing live?
-We typically save any REAL drinking for afterwards. Although we've played at a few breweries and it can be be tougher in those scenarios haha!
13. How do you feel about different musical formats (vinyl, cassette, digital etc) both for appreciating other music as well as how you want your music to be appreciated?
-We're both big fans of vinyl. I've been purchasing cassettes and cds again (I'm running out of room quick). I think bands should utilize as many formats as possible, as we will try to do.
14. We have reached the end of our conversation, is there something that you want to say still?
Be creative as often as possible and don't let vegetarians tell you what to eat.
Comments