Eat, Lead and Die Music Artist Monsterworks Interview is up

http://www.supermetal.net

1. You seem to have a very D.I.Y attitude in what you create. Please tell my readers how this mix of thrash, prog, death metal and scifi came to be a band called Monsterworks

Right from the beginning we had an "anything goes" attitude, as long as it was metal of some description. Probably the first few albums were more death metal oriented, with a raspy vocal and shorter songs overall. As time passed the music went through a thrash phase and then calmed down a bit, with a progressive element becoming more obvious; although I think that was always present in the spirit of what we have done.

The DIY attitude probably just comes from never really having a label affiliation or anyone telling us what to do. We once had a manager years ago and he tried to steer us in a more commercial direction, but I was never comfortable with it. We live to experiment really and there are no vested interests which compromise that....other than the opinions of the band members themselves.

2. How does the sound on your new album Earth differ from earlier releases in the bands eyes? I hear a more prog and sci element myself.

Well, a few years ago we released two metal space adventure concept albums in a row, so you can't get much more sci-fi than that! They had a lot of orchestral arrangements which were the idea of our former lead guitarist. It was a good idea at the time but the music became over-layered and too complex. By comparison, Earth is actually more stripped back. However, yes, somehow the prog influence in the vibe comes out a bit more, but I don't really know how or why. The only heavy "prog" band I really like is Opeth....and Mikael Akerfeldt cites a bunch of pure prog bands as influences that I never even heard of, so I am far from a prog aficionado!

Since Monsterworks started (based on a diet of Carcass, Obituary, Deicide... and Queen etc) I now listen to a lot more atmospheric metal like Neurosis and Isis. Eventually I suppose that had to make itself heard, but filtered through the death/thrash influences.

3. So you have your own impressive website http://www.supermetal.net/. How did it come to be. Also do you feel a independent band site is needed in 2013 or is social media and things like bandcamp and soundcloud what is needed to get name out.

Thanks for saying so. A friend of mine developed the architecture of the website so any idiot (i.e. me) could update and edit it easily. Overall, it seems to work although it doesn't always look how I intend it.

The band website itself has next to no use as a tool to "get the name out" because it's almost impossible that someone will stumble across an independent website looking for new music. It is there to give existing fans or potential new ones some background information that I presume they might want, like a discography etc. Social media websites are great for day to day updates but not so good at presenting background info in an engaging way.

I think it is important for a band still to have a website....although maybe many bands and the fans forget what should be there, namely more detailed background information about the band that simply is not available on the social media sites. It's funny that so many of the reviews I read of our music contain factually incorrect information (like that we live in New Zealand, or we have done only three albums)...mistakes that anyone who bothered to check the website could not make. For example, the site contains a "history" section that takes the reader through the timeframe of each album and what was happening in the band at that time; much abbreviated of course and far from perfect, but at least it is accurate.

4. Is Eat lead die your own label I think i read Earth was just released on a proper label is that true. If you could stay indie and release your own music would you in the end prefer this outcome?

Ha. Yes, right from the beginning I used to put "Eat Lead and Die Music" on our albums. It was meant to be like my publisher or something (I remember the guys from Soundgarden each had their own publishing company in the song credits, which is how you could tell who wrote that particular song). We do not have a label; Earth is self-released. We have the CDs made locally for sale on our website; whereas all the digital distribution is arranged through Reverbnation who charge a flat fee to get it to all the major outlets.

I have been involved with a recognised label, Candlelight USA, via my other band The Living Fields and in that case it really didn't seem to count for much in terms of any success it brought; although we were so proud to be signed at the time. The truth is, no one has a lot of money to spend on promotion these days so all that a label brings to the table is kudos and the fact you might be in good company lumped in with a bunch of other successful bands. You hope that some of it rubs off on you.

Possibly a label might be able to set up good opportunities for tours and also you are more likely to get noticed by the larger media outlets for coverage. That is one of the major things we are missing being totally independent.

5. How does a Monsterworks live show differ from your recordings?

We tend to choose the songs we can easily pull off live which are the thrashier ones. It should sound pretty similar to the album, although probably heavier and more intense because you can't escape the volume!

6. Where do you see the sound of Monsterworks progressing beyond the Earth release, in a more complex and prog way or aiming to the more metallic direction?

Since the follow up album is already recorded, that is quite easy to answer. "Universe" (the next album) is quite similar in vibe; maybe a bit broader musically. It has a song that is longer than the title track from Earth so if "prog" is synonymous with long songs....it is more prog. However, never accuse us of moving away from metal! We are always founded in classic heavy metal influences, as opposed to a Pink Floyd or Genesis type of background.

7. I hear amazing things about New Zealand where the band is based out of. What is the underground music scene like there being a small nation with a even smaller population?

Monsterworks is based in London, UK, and has been for ten years. However, it started in NZ and the band was an active part of the local scene in Wellington. The underground scene there was and is great. I am a bit out of touch but a few of the bands were breaking out to international recognition. Ulcerate (from Hamilton originally I think) is one band I saw on tour with Nile a few years ago. Awesome discordant death metal with even awesomer drumming.

So anyway, yes NZ is small but the isolation seems to have lead to a thriving scene. When I was in my metal formative years it was fairly rare for the "big bands" to tour there, but it did haapen. My first gig was Anthrax at the Wellington town hall on the Persistence of Time tour. I was never the same after that.

8. If you could cover any song what would it be and how would you arrange it?

We actually did a covers set at the end of 2011 for a charity gig. We did Heaven & Hell, Bark at the Moon, Number of the Beast, Supernaut and a few other classics. The highlight for me was Victim of Changes because Judas Priest's Sad Wings of Destiny is my all time favourite album. I would like to record the song properly...and probably not change it too much. Mind you, that is kind of up to Marcus because he played all the guitars...I have no patience for playing covers but I'll have a go at singing anything.

It would be cool to tackle some of the old Queen songs and maybe heavy them up a bit. It would probably be cliche to do Bohemian Rhapsody....but I have never heard a genuine attempt at a cover. The Muppets did it, but they wouldn't say "Momma, I just killed a man" or "Beelzebub". Pussies.

9. What are the members of Monsterworks listening too as of late. Are there any new stand out bands you like that need better exposure that is why i created the zine.

For me personally, not sure that there is that much underground or obscure stuff. I have been listening to the old Pink Floyd albums and slowly making my way through these but some of it can be a bit meandering with occasional moments of genius. I expect to be listening to the new Carcass album when that gets released. Also, I am looking forward to the new Gwar. I have always had a soft spot for comedy bands and Gwar always delivers.

I asked the other guys for opinions:

James recommended Oneida and Old Man Gloom as faves at the moment, as well as Rolo Tomassi, especially their new album.

Marcus mentioned The Von Hertzen Brothers. Last time we spoke Hugo was into Kvelertak and Baronness.

There is a bit of diversity in all of these! 

10. Has the digital age hurt or helped the underground music in Monsterworks world.

It's "swings and roundabouts". Meaning there are positives and negatives. If it weren't for the internet people in far flung corners of the globe probably would never hear of us. Computer technology also brought good quality recording to the masses so without that we might not exist because we can't afford $1000 a day in a studio.

But on the downside, it is impossible to make a living out of music; even if you are touring your ass off in an "underground" band. Illegitimate downloading basically means we are unlikely to make much at all back on the new album. It means that every album is a loss of a few thousand quid to me personally...but I have a day job to pay for that. While I feel metal is so much more than a hobby...in terms of what it costs that is exactly what it is. Other people probably spend their spare money and holidays on skiing or some other sport which can easily cost thousands. I choose to spend it on something more enduring (an album is something that is gonna outlive me, whereas a ski holiday ain't). I once had a flatmate who raced TT bikes every year on the Isle of Man which cost him, like, $20,000 or something every year. Compared to that, Monsterworks is cheap! And I am less likely to break my neck.

I am not bitter because I never knew any different. Since I started writing music it was already another world to the music industry of 20 or 30 years ago. The record companies completely missed the boat in time to deal with the revolution when it happened. They just whinged after the fact that "downloading is killing music". That is not actually true because they misunderstand that people will always make music for themselves and to entertain others, not just to make obscene amounts of money. If downloading kills shit commercial music I don't suppose I will lose any sleep over it.

It is just a shame that society often rewards those that are mostly undeserving; i.e. people that don't create anything. Money is made for money's sake as part of a big game of manipulation. That is where we went wrong.

11. Is there a running theme or story line on the Earth release?

There is no "storyline" to the album in terms of a narrative but there is a structure, as the songs follow the history of our planet from its formation to the end of the world, once the Sun expands to a red giant in a few billion years. All the most recent Monsterworks albums have a theme because I really enjoy writing lyrics to fit a common thread in an album. It actually makes it easier too....once you have a central concept to hang it all on. The challenge is finding a subject which "tops" the last one.

12. Thank you for the time any closing thoughts please post here.

Cheers. Thanks for the interest and the cool review.

We are more than happy to engage with metal fans out there, so they can always drop us a line on the facebook site www.facebook.com/monsterworks or send us an inquiry from the contact form on www.supermetal.net or whatever.

Have a nice day.