1. Skulldozer was found two years ago, what were the goals you had in mind when you started the band? Do you feel that you have grown up as a band?
Originally Skulldozer was intended to be a one-man project. Back in 2018 I started writing songs because the band I was in at the time didnt offer me much room creatively. I had several riffs and song ideas that never saw the light of day so I decided to take those songs and release it by myself as a solo project. I recorded a 6 song demo and intended to release it the following year. Then the world was turned upside down with the Scamdemic and everything was put on pause. Shortly after that I relocated from Texas to Mississippi in March of 2021. I used the recorded demo to put together a band and we spent the next 9 months writing and recording our first EP titled "Non Stop Ruthless Crushing" which we released in January of 2022. My goal with this project as with all my musical projects is to have a solid line up of top notch musicians and continue to release timeless, quality death metal onto the world. I definitely fell like there has been some growth in the last year. Lots of great things have transpired for Skulldozer recently and continue to gain momentum but theres always more to experience and grow from and we're enjoying the ride so far.
2. I thought that your latest EP ‘Non Stop Ruthless Crushing’, was very impressive. How are the general reactions towards this EP and what kind of ambitions did you have after finishing the recording of this EP?
So far our EP locally has had some very good reaction. Our shows are starting to grow in numbers and our merch sales are always great. Because we are currently unsigned we are doing all of the advertising and marketing ourselves. Of course with the help of label a small town band can make a bigger impression but so far we are pleased with what we've been able to accomplish in the first year and a half. Obviously my ambition is to be playing bigger shows, bigger venues, national and international tours and distribution but I feel like we've made a real valiant effort in securing ourselves as a significant heavy hitter in the Gulf South region.
3. Could you explain the meaning and significance behind the EP artwork, and tell us how the conceptualization of the artwork come about?
When I came up with the band name Skulldozer, I instantly visualized a giant, non stop crushing death machine that destoys everything in its path. I wasn't sure how to represent that so I decided to do a collage type mural with images that I thought were on theme with that idea. I would say that its loosely inspired by cover art like Carcass/Symphonies of Sickness or Dying Fetus/Purification Through Violence. I really like that type of cover art because its unlike most current death metal album covers you might see these days. As I was putting it all together it just started to take on its own life and eventually transformed into a strange type of mirrored fractal effect that just looked cool as hell. Honestly the cover art was partly planned and partly accidental but Im very happy with the end result.
4. In a time where every other band is trying to be more technical and more brutal, Skulldozer offers a refreshing breath with sludge and slam nuances. What are your views when it comes to mix all these subgenres?
Ive got a huge pool of influences that I pull from when Im writing. I grew up before and during the birth of death metal so my influences range from classic rock, glam metal, 80's pop and all the way to the most extreme of music like thrash, black, death, grind. As a musician I prefer variety in my music. Of course Skulldozer is a death metal band but I really like to find the interesting ways these other genres can be manipulated into enhancing a death metal song. Its very easy to get yourself wrapped up in the "contest" of playing music. Ive been there before. But the argument of which band is the fastest ,heaviest, most brutal is irrelevant to me. I approach song writing like story telling. I like to feel like the song has a direction and purpose with a beginning, middle and end. To me the most magical aspect of a kick ass song is not the amount of notes you can play but if your song can grab your audience and make them wanna move.
5. When it comes to your lyrics, what are some of the key themes you’ve chosen to focus in?
The lyrics have been inspired by the disgust of the backward world we live in. Alot of the lyrics are focused around topics like global tyranny, brainwashing, power hungry elites, mind control, vengeance. I like to try to tell a story but still leave it open to interpretation. I stay away from politically divisive or blatant gore lyrics just because I feel like those types of subjects are over saturated these days. I was always inspired by vocalists like Dax Riggs, Glen Danzig, David Vincent and Layne Staley who were able to capture their ideas in a poetic and powerful way.
6. You’ve chosen to self-release your material. Have you considered shopping the material around for additional distribution or are you happy doing everything independently for the moment?
At the moment I run all the advertising and marketing for the band. Aside from performing, I think its good for a band to handle a lot of the business in house. Its just as important as learning your instrument. I actually enjoy marketing my product but there are obvious disadvantages to not having that extra advertising and distribution reach that a label could offer. That being said, we are currently in search for label support for the next release.
7. What ways has been the best for you in order to promote the band? What do you do to reach as many interest as possible?
As of now all of our promotion is done through social media. I do miss the times of grassroots diy promotion but the internet is just the way that most people find new music. I know its a dying art be we still like to get out to events to hand out flyers and hang posters. Because most business is handled on the internet these days its still great to be face face with people and engage your audience in ways you can't do through a screen.
8. Could you give us a little insight into the metal-scene in Long-beach? Are there many bands that play metal, and especially death metal?
Long Beach is a small coastal town in Mississippi but there is a very strong music scene here on the Gulf Coast. There are lots of great bands from Mississippi and luckily the scene here is very supportive of their local talent. In bigger cities Ive experienced just how cutthroat bands and promoters can be. But its just different here in South Mississippi. The crowds really show up and support all the local bands and touring acts that pass through. We really love metal here and encourage more bands to consider these small towns when touring.
9. What’s your view on the value of music today? What is the main conclusion you have learned during these years about life and music being two inseparable things?
I think music now is better than its ever been and it always changes. Thats a good thing. I know there are metal elitists and gatekeepers but I think thats all uneccesary. Theres so many options of music now that its impossible to not find something you like.
10. As a metalhead, I guess you enjoy to collect cool metal items. What are your jewels, and are there some demos, Lps, CDs you are actually looking for?
Im a big collector of metal t-shirts. Ive been collecting metal T's since the 80's and Im always adding something new. Some in my collection are original prints from over 20 years ago and are impossible to find. My entire closet is black and theres more in boxes...its a terrible addiction.
11. What are some other genres of death metal that you listen to and what particular styles can you just not listen to?
A lot of my musical taste is from my old school roots. I love classic and traditional Death Metal. There a lot of new bands playing old school Death Metal that are doing great things. I prefer music that grabs you with a hook and makes you want to headbang. I think that music that can move you is more powerful than trying to play 40 riffs in 3 minutes. Although there are tons of brutal tech bands that I can appreciate. I don't usually listen to Deathcore, Hardcore or Black Metal but honestly I can find bands from every metal genre that I like.
12. It might be too early, seeing as you’re working on it right now, but what can we expect from the forthcoming album?
My intention with our next EP is to continue to deliver powerful, quality, Death Metal that withstands the test of time. We plan to drop another 6 song EP at the top of 2023.
13. OK my friend, Thanks for taking the time out for this and all the best for the future!
Thanks so much for the interview and your support of Skulldozer. We really appreciate it.
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