Interviews: Demogorgon

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Black Metal project, Demogorgon from Australia. Check out the interview and follow the band on his FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

The idea for the band name came to me when I was playing in my last full-member band OrcusTrait. The original stage name I had decided on had lost its appeal to me and I wanted to go for something new. I tried to think of something that didn't sound to cliche or cheesy but was having trouble. In the end, I was looking through my collection of Dungeons and Dragons books for a campaign I was writing, back when I still played and came across the name of a monster called Demogorgon and I thought "Yeah, that'll work" It wasn't until much later that I learned that it was also the name of a demon from Greek mythology, but that worked out well in the end. When OrcusTrait broke up and I decided to carry on solo, I kept the name and also named the project Demogorgon as well. The only problem I have with the name now is the assumption that I got the name from the TV show Stranger Things, despite the band pre-dating the show by a few years.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I've always gravitated to heavier styles of music. I grew up in a house that encouraged listening to AC/DC, and I wanted heavier music to listen to which lead to finding Metallica and then the rest of the great thrash bands out there. I was introduced to death metal sometime after that and some of the more "commercial" black metal bands such as Dimmu Borgir. After that, I began to discover great bands such as Mayhem, Emperor, and the like. It was during that time I also discovered the band Carpathian Forest and began to write music in a similar style to them, as well as Mayhem, Gorgoroth, and Darkthrone. The last band I mentioned previously, OrcusTrait, was my way of trying to use all those influences to write music. When I set off to pursue a solo project, I wanted to be free to write black metal in any style I felt like. It's why some of my work sounds alot like Carpathian Forest and another album may sound like Gorgoroth and Darkthrone. As for wanting to play this style? I felt it was the best genre to truly unleash some rage, anger, and blasphemy straightforwardly, without the need to tie it to a political ideal and allow it to just remain apolitical pure black hate for God and Man.

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

As the only member of the band, I can very safely say that I did indeed know myself before I formed this band. Going on 35 years now.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

My all-time favorite bands, not just black metal, are Metallica, Carpathian Forest, Mayhem, Bathory, early Mercyful Fate, Gorgoroth, Arch-Goat, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Electric Wizard, Mgla, and Motorhead. My taste in music runs a wide range of styles, I'll happily play the newest album by Mgla for instance, but also throw on some early Metallica, Morbid Angel, any Motorhead album, or even some Discharge. I've also recently begun digging into Anarcho-punk, D-beat, and Crust punk as well, which has also been influential in the writing of new material for Demogorgon.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

My biggest inspiration is obviously Carpathian Forest. I discovered them in the early 2000s and I really liked what I heard. I am also influenced by many other bands, from Bathory to Gorgoroth, to Arch-Goat, and even D-beat/Crust bands such as Discharge and Dishammer. As for lyrics, I am inspired by Satanism, a general aversion to most religions, and general contempt for mankind. Whether that be from their blind selfishness and self-righteous natures, or their idiotic behaviors.

6. Where was your last gig?

As a solo project, I haven't done a single gig with Demogorgon, and unless a truly great offer comes along for gigs, I doubt that this music will be performed in front of a live audience. If the demand becomes great, I would look into the prospect of finding some sessions musicians to play live. However, the last time I played a live gig, was around 12-15 years ago and I was playing bass for the band in question. It's been a while since I've stood in front of an audience and played music, but the desire to do it never really goes away.

7. Where would you like to act?

If Demogorgon ever does play live, it would be a dream come true to perform at Wacken Open Air, Hellfest, and also Brutal Assault. Basically all the big metal festivals, both for the obviously large crowds that would be there, and to spend my time when I am not on stage simply being a fan of heavy metal and watching and meeting the bands and artists I respect and enjoy so much.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

I would really like to share a stage with Carpathian Forest, Mayhem, Mgla, Arch-Goat and 1349. I would also be very happy to work with Fenriz in some capacity as well as Sunn O)))

9. Whom not?

No one in particular.

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

My first gig was when I was still in high school with the first band I had ever joined. It was a death metal band and I had only recently joined. I had practiced frequently with the band and on my own at home and felt very at ease. I think I didn't truly experience any form of stage fright since I have been performing music in some capacity since I was in primary school. From being in the school choir to performing in the various concert bands in high school, as well as my high school's big band as well. But the best advice I could give to anyone is to practice as much as possible, and do your best to ignore the crowd if you need to. Focus on the guy at the soundboard if you need to and slowly but surely you'll ease into the rhythm of playing live and it'll become totally second nature.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Metallica, Slayer, Carpathian Forest, Mayhem, Arch-Goat, Emperor, Gorgoroth, Electric Wizard, 1349, and Darkthrone are the ones that most immediately spring to mind. I could spend hours listing off all the bands that have inspired me in some form not just with Demogorgon, but in all forms of music I have written at some point.

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

As an artist who is really starting to gain traction thanks to being signed, I haven't really got any amusing or even disturbing stories about fans. So let me use this as a chance to pre-emptively make a few suggestions to my future fans. No, I will not send blood, semen, or any other kind of bodily fluid no matter how much you ask.

13. What do you think of your fans?

I'm still waiting to gain more than a few dozen of them, but I'm eager to share my music with them and hope that they appreciate what I have created.

14. What do you think of our site?

I think your site is great. There are a lot of great bands out there and they really need to be brought to the attention of metal fans the world over, so you are doing a great service by helping them out with it all. Keep up the great work.

15. Something to add?

Check out my Bandcamp here https://demogorgon2.bandcamp.com/ to explore and purchase my back catalog also visit http://demogorgon.theprintbar.com to buy a t-shirt to help support the band. Be sure to follow me on all the various forms of social media, I'm pretty easy to find. Also, make sure to follow the social media of Sliptrick Records for more great bands and artists as well as keep up with any news related to Demogorgon. Thank you for your interest in my band.