Interviews: Absolute Darkness

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Death Metal/Thrash Metal band Absolute Darkness 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, did you plan it or came out just like that?

Ron: After the 1st iteration of the band formed, and I started writing lyrics, the bassist at the time commented how dark the lyrics were, and I took the name from that.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Ron: I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and got to see bands like Exodus, Testament, Forbidden, Death Angel, and Vio-lence play on a regular basis and loved these bands. Later, after the thrash scene was struggling and I started to play with the guys from Impaled, I got much more into Death Metal and then Melodic Death Metal. Given my love for these styles of music, I incorporated these elements into the songs I write.

Emad: Honestly this is not a genre I would have expected to be playing right now. I’m definitely a bit out of my element when it comes to thrashy death metal drumming, but I’m having a blast playing out of my comfort zone and it really is improving my drumming overall. My drumming background has been primarily doom, melodic death metal, and metalcore.

Orson: I've been a fan of metal for over 25 years, and feel privileged in having the opportunity to contribute to a style that many of us enjoy.

Doug: Music has always been my armor in life and the more Metal the stronger the armor. I have so much gratitude for what metal has done for my life. I figured the best way to show my thanks is to write and play music.

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

Ron: I have known Orson for a while through the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise. We are both from the Bay Area, but met in Jamaica. Doug and I actually ran into each other at a local drug store and we started chatting about the shirt I was wearing and he joined the band shortly afterward. Emad came into the band from being longtime friends with Doug

Emad: Doug was the first guitarist I ever played with when we were still in high school. It’s been nearly 2 decades since we’ve played music together so I had to jump at the chance for a reunion of sorts.

Doug: Emad and I have been friends since middle school. He was in my first ever metal band back in the day.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Ron: The Crown, Testament, Vio-Lence, Amon Amarth (It’s hard for me to pick just one…I could name many more.

Doug: The Haunted, Darkane, Revocation, Psycroptic, and anything from Sweden 

Orson: Blood Red Throne, Exodus, Death Angel, Possessed, Kreator, Napalm Death, just to name a few.

Emad: Bongripper, Cult of Luna, Dark Tranquility

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Ron: The current political climate and the problems that our country and the world face that are being ignored, or actively being made worse by those in power REALLY pisses me off. I use writing songs as a way to vent this frustration.

Doug: Who inspires is my family. Being a father and what that entails for raising children in these times. I've always been an emotional or feeling type of player so anything and everything.

6. Where was your last gig?

Ron: We played the Elbo Room in Oakland, CA USA in August, it was a really great show.

7. Where would you like to perform?

Ron: We would LOVE to play the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise. Orson and I have been on this cruise for multiple years and are part of the community built around this event. Playing festivals like Brutal Assault, Hell Fest, or Wacken Open Air would also be super awesome and something we are hoping we get to do.

Emad: Touring Europe has always been on my bucket list.

Orson: Europe definitely, like the Black Heart or Devonshire Arms in the Camden Town area of London, Czech Republic, Mexico. There are just too many places. 

Doug: Any of the above-mentioned places. I love to travel and explore different places and cultures

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Ron: Certainly there are many bands we would LOVE to get an opportunity to play with. Any of the many standout Bay Area thrash bands. The many outstanding bands from Europe like Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, At The Gates, The Haunted, and many, many others.

Orson: Possessed or Brujeria would be fun. Also, we have a great number of bands here in the Bay Area that I would feel honored to share the stage with.

9. Whom not?

Ron: There may be bands that I might not think we would pair well with, certainly any bands that toute fascist or ulta right beliefs, especially if that's the crowd that would be drawn would be problematic. That being said, we are not above playing with anyone, the line where we would refuse to play a show with someone would be pretty far from any normal metal band

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

Ron: Not me personally, but for those that do, I appreciate the struggle. Learning to overcome and do things, despite fear and anxiety, is something to be lauded. Having fear and anxiety is not something to be ashamed of, overcoming it is something to be celebrated. My advice would be if you're feeling anxious just be prepared for your show, know your material and know your part extremely well. Also know that the more you do it, the less nervous you will feel.

Emad: I wouldn’t call it stage fright, but I definitely deal with anxiety when it comes to playing live. People underestimate how much work goes into pulling off a successful show and how easily things can go wrong. For me, it all builds up until I’m on the stage and playing and then it all just melts away.

Doug: When I first started playing live I would get super nervous. Still sometimes depending. The best thing that I found is that I get to share and do something I love with so many like-minded people. It's like having one big party with your friends and family so I think of it as we become one and have a blast, so nothing to worry about in the end.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Ron: Vio-lence and the recent reformation and Sean Killian’s recovery have been very inspiring for me. Certainly, Metallica, as James Hetfield optimizes the singer/guitarist frontman and that has been an inspiration to me playing that role in this band. Testament, as they carried the torch of Bay Area thrash when other bands decided to give up or change direction in the ’90s

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

Emad: Not necessarily a fan, but once when I was on tour with a previous project we parked our van outside the venue in Eureka, CA. We were all making sandwiches and just killing time until a random dude on a skateboard rolled up and asked if we had any heroin to give him. Later while we were playing he caused a disturbance in the venue and proceeded to get beat with his own skateboard as we were playing. It was all pretty wild and everyone was too distracted from the commotion that our playing took a backseat.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Ron: I appreciate them a lot. I make music and write about things that I care about and I hope others come along for the ride, anyone who appreciates what we do has my eternal gratitude

Emad: Fans are tight.

Orson: Fans make me feel cool

Doug: It's awesome to find people who are on the same frequency as us. They are our extended Family.

14. What do you think of our site? 

Ron: I like it a lot. It looks like a site that was designed by people who love metal music!

15. Something to add?

Thanks for the opportunity to share with everyone today!