Extreme Thrashing, Classic meets Prog metallers Runescarred Interview is up







 Questions answered by Tim Driscoll

1. I did enjoy the Thrashing Power metal sounds of  Dead Earth Politics . How did Runescarred come to be from this project?

We enjoyed them too! In the final days of DEP, Ven and I felt that it was time to move on to something different, as DEP had gone about as far as it could in a variety of areas, artistically and professionally. We wanted to explore some uncharted waters (for us), and we needed a new vessel. As it turned out, forming Runescarred was the best move we could have made. We're still just beginning and already the musicianship is miles beyond anything I have been a part of, at least in the metal realm. Everyone in the band is an eclectic, dedicated professional both on their respective instruments and as bandmates. It is a joy to work with all these guys in the studio, on stage, on the road, in the....haha, well you get the picture.   

2. Texas seems to love Thrash, Power metal and Prog metal . Do you feel Runescarred keeps that tradition alive?

I would like to think one can easily connect the dots from us to our metal forefathers; the Testaments and Iron Maidens of the world, so in that regard, yes, we do our part to keep lit the eternal flame of metal. I don't necessarily think the "tradition" aspect is a conscious decision, i.e., we're not museum curators trying to preserve this style in amber for future generations. We're just trying to make music that excites us and hopefully that excites others as well; nothing more, nothing less. As for the Texas connection, it was just a happy accident that we all found each other here, with some of the band being native Texans and others from elsewhere. Of course, Texans' reputation for being bold and brash precedes them, but I believe we would be just as confident in ourselves and our music if we were from Vancouver, Helsinki, or Jakarta!

3. I hear so much Nevermore , Iced Earth, Slough Feg and Savatage in what you do what bands have brought you to the sound of Runescarred?

First of all, thank you for those comparisons, they are quite flattering indeed! I wouldn't say Slough Feg and Savatage are direct influences, although we are very aware of them and respect them very much. Iced Earth and Nevermore however; those are both definite favorites of ours. I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Loomis at NAMM recently, and Ven has a friendly relationship with Matt Barlow (we even got a quote from him for our first EP!). Great guys, even greater bands. Obviously everyone brings their own little favorite spices to the meal, but as for band-wide influences, I would say bands like Megadeth, Lamb of God, and Iron Maiden lead the way. If I go any further beyond that, I'll be stuck typing for days. 

4. Why do The Distant Infinite D.I.Y. and not try to find label support. The album is so well done and power in presentation?

It is true that we did not have a traditional label release our album, but we do work with a very talented guy in Dennis Sanders from a company called the Label Group, based in Nashville and Los Angeles. He has been indispensable in opening doors for us and making connections in "the biz" outside of our own, so even though we aren't on a record label per se, we are not left foraging for ourselves in the jungle. Thank you for the compliments on our presentation, we agree! Ven's brother, James Gelber, has recorded and engineered all of our work to date and is a badass knob turner, if I do say so. Our album art was designed by a good friend of ours here in Austin, Rich Knepperath of Anonymous Ink & Idea. We have a long history with Rich dating back to the DEP days and every sleeve and t shirt design he has given us has been top-notch. Ven's background in both web design and film-making is also an asset in terms of layouts, tour posters, etc.; he has great visual sense. 

5. I would say there is a strong Heathen/Pagan Ideal to what you record .If you agree how does it play into the overall theme and sound of the band?

That's interesting, I have never thought of us in that regard. While most/all of the band were raised in traditional religious households, none of us have really carried that into adulthood. I would say we are certainly free thinkers, whether or not that translates into a "God" or many gods or even no gods at all is a question we would each have to answer individually. To this point, Ven has been our sole lyricist and he is also a well-read individual. I would say that anything "heathen" or "pagan" from him is not fully intentional, at least in terms of overtly endorsing those ideas, but rather the result of his knowledge and ability to draw from many different wells of literature and philosophy for his inspiration. I don't know, maybe he would have a better answer, haha. 

6. If you could make a proper video for any track off The Distant Infinite which would it be and how would you like it to look?

Shhhh, don't tell anyone! Although we're pleased with the results of our videos for "Inviting Rivers" and "Poison Oasis", we certainly would like to step up our production levels in the future. Once again, Ven's expertise in this area (he also co-owns his own film company, Indignant Dog Films) is invaluable. We have plans to make more videos for other tracks on the album, including "Swallow Your Tail' and...... <trails off> You'll just have to wait and see for yourself!

7. How has the digital age changed releasing and producing music in 2020  ( IE- Bandcamp, youtube, Soundcloud, Podcasts and Blogs)

The stock answer is that it has made it both better and worse, which is true. It's easier than ever not only record but to "get your stuff out there", which is good, but it also saturates the market and makes it harder than ever to stand out, which is bad. For us, we're just happy anyone is listening at all, and we work to exhaust all possible avenues to be heard. We have presence in all of those platforms mentioned, and (gasp) we also still make honest-to-God compact discs, remember those?

8. How does visuals and image for a band like Runescarred change the live performance verses putting the album on and listening?

Great question! I think we certainly "look" like how our music sounds but we don't necessarily "perform" how it sounds, if you take my meaning. We take the music seriously and play it as well as we can both live and in studio; there has to be a certain level of pride and professionalism there. However, we're all very theatrical, goofy guys on stage, and we like to have fun with each other and the audience. Our music is not so technical as to require us to be statues on stage, and the world already has enough scowl-faced grumps in metal bands. We like to offer something different, something a little more engaging, flippant, and irreverant.

9. What bands are impressing the members of  Runescarred currently?

Besides ourselves? Ha, just kidding. I can't speak for anyone else but I have always really dug Karnivool, from Australia. Just a great mix of leveled-up Tool riffs/rhythms with swirling Deftones groove and Radiohead ambience. A very futuristic-sounding band, well, to a semi-old metal guy like me, anyways. Check them out!

10. I see the word Prog used often with the band do you feel that avant or prog edge makes you stand out a bit more in the genre youre creating within?

It's funny; it seems as though many reviewers have taken us to task for even using the term to describe ourselves, as if we haven't proven our prog bonafides yet. I would say that it's not (yet, at least) as prominent a component of our sound as some people would seem to expect. We certainly don't sound like Dream Theater, Symphony X, or Opeth, even though they are all brilliant bands and big influences on the instrumentalists in the band. We are not, and probably never will be a "pure" progressive metal band. We are exactly what we say we are: a progressive power-thrash metal band; a little of this, a little of that, you get the idea. I think "prog edge" is the perfect way to describe it: it's definitely an important element of our sound but not the principal one. To me, part of being "progressive" entails trying new things and trying them often, in which case we fit that description perfectly. Instrumental prowess is certainly important, but we also know we have to craft good songs as well. Three minutes or ten minutes, the goal is still the same: complete the story, but also make it compelling.  

11. If you could tour with any band who would it be and why?

Simple: Maiden, because they're Iron goddamn Maiden. 

12. Do you feel this is a new rebirth of underground music or are there to many bedroom bands muddying up the waters?

Honestly, I think the overall quality of underground music has stayed roughly the same over time. It sometimes serves to push the mainstream in a different direction (think of all the 80s bands that bubbled under the surface prior to the explosion of the 90s Seattle bands) and sometimes it's just there for people who want to feel like they are choosing the music, rather than having it being chosen for them by the kingmakers of the industry. I would say that mainstream music has far more peaks and valleys in terms of its aggregate credibility. 

13. The vocals go from very Melodic Power metal to gruff and almost Death metal like. it works well was this always the plan for Runescarred sound?

Yes, very much so. In the early days of Dead Earth Politics, Ven was exclusively a David Vincent/Randy Blythe-style growler but over the years, he has worked hard to widen his palette by including melodic vocals more in the vein of Dio/Dickinson/Barlow as well as other stylings that are unique to him. Since the music around him was changing, it only made sense to change up his approach as well. I myself am a fan of many different vocal styles from church choirs, to blues and gospel, to geeky indie singers, to the most guttural of metal vocals. You just have to speak your voice and tell your story; there's only a "wrong" way if it's not your way. The variety of vocal approaches will always be a key component of the Runescarred sound; I refer to it as the "Actors Guild". It's no different than playing a different guitar or amp; whatever fits the role and whatever fits the song is what's best.

14. How does the artwork of The Distant Infinite tie into the theme of the record?

As mentioned before, we have had the good fortune of knowing Rich Knepperath for many years before the formation of Runescarred, and are pleased that he has continued to work with us from project to project. He once again outdid himself on the record's artwork. Without getting too deep into the explanation behind the album's title, I would simply say there are many elements of the cover that make one think of "searching" or "infinity"; we have the sun and moon, a soaring bird, a seemingly endless snake, the (perhaps all-seeing?) eye, and a skull housing the brain with its infinite capacity for thought and contemplation. There's a lot to digest but none of it seems too obvious or heavy-handed. Simply stated, it just looks great! 

15. Thank you for your time any closing thoughts here.

Thank you for taking the time to listen! We just want to continue to express our love and gratitude for those who have supported us thus far, and we look forward to making more music and playing many more shows for everyone in the not-so-distant (and not-so-infinite) future. Cheers!

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