Interviews: Nail Splitter

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Deathcore band, Nail Splitter from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

So our band name has actually changed since we started. Anthrothysia was our original name, which is a hybrid Greek/Latin term we came up with meaning "Human Sacrifice." We quickly outgrew it though, and as the band developed a more serious sound we began brainstorming new names. Nail Splitter felt like it had some weight to it, and conjured grotesque imagery of medical tools and torture, so we ended up keeping it!

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

As huge fans of the genre and extreme metal overall, it felt natural to write once we began exploring the idea of starting a new project. Christian & Jake had been making music in a beatdown hardcore band which felt stuck in the mud, and began writing more complicated riffs and longer songs that would eventually become Anthrothysia, our demo. Shortly afterwards we found Xulxer and were amazed at his vocal talent, so we brought him on board. We were all huge fans of Myspace era deathcore and wanted to write music that paid tribute to bands like Whitechapel and Rose Funeral. Our sound has definitely developed since then and continues to develop as we write.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Only Christian & Jake knew each other before starting the band, playing in a short lived hardcore band before embarking on this Nail Splitter journey. Most of the band was formed via craigslist if you can believe it!

4. Each band member favourite band?

Jake - Lately it's been Humanity's Last Breath and Code Orange

Christian - Dance Gavin Dance, early Opeth, Isis, Stevie Wonder

Xulxer - Currently Ingested, Skeletal Remains, and Black Tongue

Cody - The Wiggles

Conor - The Black Dalia Murder, Opeth, and Dave Matthews Band

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

It's hard to touch on a primary influence for our music. I think a lot of it comes from inner turmoil, an existential kind of drive to create something meaningful to outlast ourselves. Modern existence is a pretty constant source of inspiration to build the sonic equivalent of a waking nightmare. We are also inspired by our amazing friends, fans, and fellow metalheads. When people tell you how your music has affected them emotionally, all you want to do is do it again.

6. Where was your last gig?

We formed this band in 2019, but didn't actually find our drummer until 2020, at which point live music was effectively shut down. So we haven't even played a show yet! It's a unique perspective and challenge for us, to try to promote and create music without the avenue of live performance. I'm sure we aren't alone in confronting this challenge, and I can't imagine this state lasts forever.

7. Where would you like to act?

We've actually been seeing a lot of support from listeners and fans in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam! So maybe someday we can hop over that big pond and connect with some metalheads over there. For now though, we wanna make our way to Boston, LA, and North Carolina. Locally, we plan on playing every single venue that will have us, specifically The Marquis, The Summit, The Roxy, Seventh Circle Music Collective, Trailside Saloon, and more here in Denver.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Man, there are so many great bands out there we would LOVE to work with, but I'd like to shout out a few local gems that inspire us: Crown Magnetar, Call of the Void, Reman & Sustain, Khemmis, and Kalfou. Go check em out.

9. Whom not?

Any band not adhering to social distancing and pandemic procedures and continuing to spread COVID through their ignorance. You're hurting and potentially killing your fans.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Everyone gets stage fright, it's a normal part of performance. The important thing to note is that confidence in yourself is what beats it. Nothing anyone says will ever give you the fire to push through your own shortcoming, be it feelings of not being enough, concern of what others may think, or anything else that's causing the stage fright. The strongest help is to connect with whatever you did when you wrote whatever you wrote. That place is safe, and sacred.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Two bands that come to mind right now are The Acacia Strain and The Black Dahlia Murder. Two bands that have released phenomenal records this past year despite pushing 20 years together as bands. The huge hurdles, and evolutionary boundaries that The Acacia Strain have overcome as a band continue to astound me.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

We've had some very interesting requests of a lustful nature regarding our singer, which is understandable. He's pretty sexy.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Nothing but love and appreciation, especially for our hater-fans. People who don't even like our music but stick around to give us a hard time. You know who you are, and you can't escape our love.

14. What do you think of our site?

You're doing fantastic work, and I can see the amount of work that goes into it. Representing underground music and giving a chance to bands starting out is a thankless job, so we definitely wanna thank you for giving us a chance and hearing us out.

15. Something add?

We're working hard on our upcoming EP, 'Hail To Agony' and hope that if you enjoyed our single Never Sleep Again you stick around to hear what we are cooking up! By the time this interview is out, we will have sent out our first band newsletter, so follow us, sign up for our email list, and just enjoy the music. It's our love letter to death metal and all you metalheads out there. We see you.