DECREPIT THRONE (EN)

 1- Hello, thanks for answering to our questions. What are you guys currently up to?
Gregory-Greetings to you and thanks for giving us the opportunity to talk about Decrepit Throne. Currently we are putting the finishing touches on our debut album «Traitor’s Grave».  So much work has gone into it. After hours and hours of work the album is finally ready to unleash into the underground. And, would you believe I am already in the process of writing the riffs for the second album?
Ron-Thanks for hitting us up. Right now I finished my vocal parts and sent them to Gregory to finish what he has to to with mixing and making sure it sounds good. I’m also in the middle of doing a new Blasphemous EP too.

2- First off, could you make some history of the band?
Gregory-Well, I started Decrepit Throne in 2016 as a studio project after my last band that was based out of Raleigh, NC died mysteriously and abruptly. And to be honest, it was somewhat of a relieve because my desire to create darker and heavier music was really starting to consume me as an artist. I have never been able to find local musicians who were willing to commit to the darker side of the universe.  Everyone wants to be a rock star and follow what is popular. I do not care about kissing the proverbial ass of any music scene so I decided a studio project would be my best option. I started writing riffs without any outside opinions. I then started demoing the songs and I eventually entered a local studio. By the end of 2016 I had enough material for a 7 track album. As luck would have it, the dark energies of the universe directed the talents of NJ singer Ron Kaiser (of the band Blasphemous) to the project. Ron ended up writing and performing the vocals for Decrepit Throne. His work was done from a distance in NJ and is absolutely punishing .
Ron-yeah towards the end of 2015 I had parted ways with another band I was working with, and I had decided to reform Blasphemous, but I wanted to do something while I was finding the right mix of musicians, I saw Gregory was looking to do a studio project so I messaged him and we hit it off. Probably one of the easiest projects I’ve ever been involved with, but also a challenge in its own way because I never did a studio project

 
 3- How could you describe your sound?
Gregory-Diverse, chaotic metal that is both melodic and pounding. I think fans of the second wave of Black Metal and early 90’s Death Metal will heard where our influences originate. The music dwells in a dark atmosphere that leaves the listener enough room to breathe but it can get quite maniacal at times. I place no boundaries on my riffs and Rons vocals are some of the heavies that I have heard in a long time in any genre. As a certain famous band once wrote «Evil Has No Boundaries».

 4- What are the band’s main musical influences?
Gregory-As a guitarist my influences are as wide as the oceans are deep. I try to maintain a diverse and interesting diet of music without compromising who I am as an artist. My history with black metal dates back to the early sounds of Venom, Slayer, Bathory and Celtic Frost. Also, with the sounds of 90’s Black Metal bands such as Dissection, Emperor, Immortal and Dawn. As well as bands like Death and Carcass. And on a more modern note, bands like Drudkh, Blood of Kingu, Tsjuder, Sinmara, Blut Aus Nord, Tempel of Baal, Aosoth and Arckanum. Have I even mention that bands that started all for me? Bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin!
Ron-My influences tend to vary a wide range from metal, rock, prog, goth, hardcore, even 80’s synth. As far as Black Metal influences I’m driven by bands like Darkthrone, Gorgoroth, Mayhem, Immortal, Dissection, Venom, Profanatica. And I’m driven by Death Metal bands like Morbid Angel, Deicide, Behemoth, Immolation. also am constantly keeping an ear out for new stuff too. The new Black Anvil has really caught my ear, as well as Abbath’s debut. And of course the bands that got me started on the road to hell, Black Sabbath, Queen, KISS, Rainbow (Dio era only) Iron Maiden

5- How has the feedback for your new album been?
Gregory-Well, at this point the feedback has been very positive. Many people have spoken to me about it and it seems the album is being accepted my those who have heard it. The album has not made its way around the globe so I really hope the underground legions find it acceptable.

 
6- And are you personally satisfied with the final outcome?
Gregory-You know, I am shocked by the fact that I am very pleased. The project basically happen naturally and free of any contrived notions. I feel it is raw, organic and dark. The music reflects a part of who I am, of the dark side of my existence in this life cycle. That is really all that I could hope for.
Ron-Absolutely, this was a great end result, Gregory sent me material that was very inspiring to me. A total aural assault. And the face he allowed me to go at it lyrically and vocally was great. I didn’t have to satisfy 4 other egos and try to fit my ideas into a preconceived idea.

 
7- How could youdescribe this opus in just 3 words?
Gregory-Darkness, Anger, Deranged.
Ron-Loathing, Hatred, Despair

 
8- How was the production process for your new release?
Gregory-Well, in the beginning, I started writing and demoing riffs in my home studio. I would then send the songs to Ron as a primitive demo recording. After he received the songs he then began writing the vocal parts. He would later record his parts in a NJ studio and send the completed tracks to me. I ended up tracking all guitar and bass parts in a studio in Raleigh, NC called Pershing Hill Sound. I tracked guitars over the course of one weekend and then went back and recorded the bass a few weeks later. The drums were mostly processed in my home studio but we did touch them up at Pershing Hill. By this point in the process, Ron had recorded his vocal parts in NJ so that he could send them to us here in NC. We sort of mixed and produced as we went so the album mix was practically finished by the time we brought in Ron’s vocals. During the final stages of mixing we only had to process the drum sounds and edit the levels of each instrument. I was very pleased with how efficient and professional the experience was. I then took the final mix and mastered it myself. I actually put very little effort into the mastering because I did not want to compromise the integrity of the original mix.
Ron-actually they were recorded in Philly(sorry to correct you Gregory) but it’s a short drive across the river from my house in NJ. Jeff Barow (from a local band Ten Ton Hammer)was recommended by a friend’s band that he recorded. And his studio was right down the street from where Blasphemous currently practices. In fact there was a couple recording sessions that were done immediately after a Blasphemous practice so it kind of contributes to the raw vocal sound I give on the recording.

 
9- And how does the songwriting process work?
Gregory-Song writing for me is basically this, I pick up a guitar or bass and I simply start playing. I feel most of my riffs are gifts from the universe. I don’t think about it, I just play. Sometimes, I get nothing, on other occasions I can put together entire songs with little effort. It is as if the music is channeled to me from another realm. I can’t explain it, it just happens. Also, I almost never present an idea until it is at least 90% finished. If I can’t finish a song, I simply forget about it. It may never come back to me but I never force anything. It is what it is. If I have enough to work with, I will put the riffs into a logical order and present them to the other musicians. In this case, it was Ron. I sent him the finished demo tracks and he used the demos to compose and arrange the lyrics. Drums and bass lines are usually composed at random intervals during the writing process. On rare occasions I do compose on bass. I seem to pick up universal signals more accurately by using a guitar. Also, I do not like playing bass…the guitar always seems to be my best option.
Ron-as Gregory said, he would send me over demo tracks. I remember some of the first lyrics were penned while I was trapped at home during a blizzard(Winter’s Call). And his ideas are well thought out and virtually ready to go, so I got the challenge of writing lyrics and fitting them into the arrangement. It’s different than what I’ve done with Blasphemous and other bands I’ve been involved with. Most times we’re in a room together and we will discuss what part should go where and how many times should each riff go. But I’m glad I can adapt easily and it made everything go smoothly. Gregory has the hard task and he’s definitely up to it.

10 – Finally, what are you near-future plans?
Gregory-Near future for me is to just survive each day of existence in this life cycle. Hopefully, this album will make its way into the underground soon. Work has already begun on the next album. Because this is currently only a studio project, I plan to channel as much time into making music as I can.
Ron- I’m preparing to record a Blasphemous EP and lining up live performances this summer along the East Coast of the USA, but I’m always coming up with lyrical ideas that will be used exclusively for Decrepit Throne.

 11- That’s all from our side, thanks again for taking your time to answer our questions. If you now want to add some final words; feel free to do it.
Gregory-Please feel free to contact us and many thanks for this opportunity to talk about Decrepit Throne. Check us out at https://decrepitthrone.bandcamp.com/ or at https://www.facebook.com/DecrepitThrone/