Interviews: Illusion of Fate

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Melodic Blackened Death Metal band Illusion Of Fate from the USA. Check out this band and follow them on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

Hayden: Our original drummer actually thought it up. It essentially means that our ideas of fate, and what happens to us when we expire. Is nothing more than an illusion we tell ourselves. To quell the encroaching sense of dread we feel, knowing we haven’t the slightest clue of what lies beyond the threshold. No one actually knows for sure. Fate is an illusion we tell ourselves. Where he got it from, I’m not entirely sure. But when I first heard it, it felt right. So we went with it.

Austin: I got nothing (this was before my time in the band)

Bryan: From what I’ve been told, the band’s original drummer had come up with that name, based on the philosophy that stemmed from fate being an illusion. To seize control of your destiny.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Hayden: It’s what makes sense to me. Plain and simple as that. It speaks to me on such a level that I don’t think I could really artistically create anything that isn’t born of some sort of melancholy, some sort of dark inspiration. 

Austin: I’ve always enjoyed more energetic and fast drumming so naturally that led me from punk to metal. 

Bryan: Being an avid enthusiast for all art forms that thrive on escapism, metal was always a type of music that not only I enjoyed listening to, but it was like it could take me to another world in my imagination. In a sense, it was like wanting to create worlds of my own through art, and it has since led me to the present day.

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

Hayden: King Morbid and Bryan and I have known each other since high school, and have been good friends since then. Austin actually, we met after the very first EP dropped, sharing each other bands first release through a Facebook group. We got to talking and here we are.

Austin: I knew Hayden as an online friend and someone I collaborated with on some side projects but I met everyone for the first time in person when I first drove from Detroit to Milwaukee to try out for the band. It was a pretty nerve-wracking experience at the time but we hit it off right away so I was quickly assured I had made a good choice to join a band 6 hours away from where I live. 

Bryan: King Morbid as well as Hayden are both good friends from my days going back to high school. Although I have collaborated with Hayden on several musical projects over the years, Illusion of Fate is the first true band that we have had together.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Hayden: Everyone would probably say my favorite band would be either Rotting Christ or Moonlight Sorcery. Bryan’s is a tough one, but I know one of his absolute favorites is Type-O-Negative. Austin, definitely Between the Buried and Me. And King Morbid is easy, Whitechapel.

Austin: Green Day

Bryan: For Hayden, I would say his favorite current band is Moonlight Sorcery. Austin loves Between the Buried and Me, while Kevin’s favorite is The Cure, or so I’ve been told. Mine is ever-changing, but if I had to decide on a current favorite, it’s Woods of Ypres.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Hayden: I just have a constant need to write, a constant need to one-up myself. And improve upon my abilities. A constant need to create. It’s just kind of how I’m hardwired. As cliche as that may sound, it’s the honest truth. That and it’s hard not to be inspired, working with some amazing musicians. 

Austin: Undiagnosed ADHD and marijuana. 

Bryan: I’ve often said that when you’re in search of a particular sound or particular writing that you cannot find anywhere else preexisting, the only logical solution is to create it yourself. This is the motivation that has fueled my need to create music and write fiction, or poetry. I want to create the music I want to hear but haven’t heard elsewhere, and it’s as simple as that.

6. Where was your last gig?

Hayden: Our last show was actually in Toledo Ohio. Never been there before but that was a cool show!

Austin: I played for a local gospel church last Sunday, IoF’s last few gigs were a couple weekend runs we did with our friends in Pit Lord and Yotuma, both of which were a great time across the Midwest!

Bryan: My last performance was at Howard’s Club, in Bowling Green, Ohio. We shared the stage with Ignominious and Hanging Fortress for that one, which I highly encourage anyone reading to check out if you like death metal at its most primal, or aquatic… No, I will not elaborate on that last term.

7. Where would you like to act?

Hayden: I would love to go across the pond and play in Europe. I think that would be easily one of the coolest things anyone can do. 

Austin: After my drumming career fails I’m planning on acting in the adult film industry. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Hayden: I would cry tears of joy if I got the chance to open for Rotting Christ. 

Austin: Future X IoF collaboration would be lit. 

Bryan: While it may not be a feature, my dream collaboration would be to have Dan Swano producing one of our records. If you’re into this style of music, no doubt you’ll know who that is.

9. Whom not?

Hayden: I honestly have never given that much thought. 

Austin: Most certainly not Casket Robbery, I heard their drummer smells funny. 

Bryan: Myself.

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

Hayden: Practice makes perfect. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will get with it. So don’t let anything stop you. And keep doing your thing. 

Austin: Practice and repetition build confidence, ya just gotta know that even on your worst day you have the skills to metaphorically pay the bills. That confidence is formed in the practice room. 

King Morbid: In the beginning I was terrified but after a while, you realize you just have to do it scared, and eventually it becomes easier.  Do it scared and make it look cool. No one will notice you messing up as long as you look cool doing it.

Bryan: Oddly enough, I have never suffered from stage fright of any kind. Although the moments leading up to taking the stage do bring about some nerves, it’s more so nervous anticipation. For those who struggle with this, it can help, strangely enough, to look one particular person in the crowd right in the eyes.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Hayden: Artists that have continuously influenced me in a multitude of ways would be Rotting Christ, Children of Bodom, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Aborted, Moonlight Sorcery, Allegaeon, Cattle Decapitation, Septicflesh, Blackbraid, Dark Tranquility and Cradle of Filth. Just to name the artists that have greatly influenced me.

Austin: Between the Buried and Me, The Black Dahlia Murder, Green Day, The Beatles, among many more. I’m honestly lucky to say I’ve been most inspired by my peers in the various bands I’ve been a part of since high school. It’s more impactful to see something firsthand rather than read about it or see videos of it. 

Bryan: I take away something to be inspired by with almost every single artist I listen to, but the ones that have been constant staples for me when it comes to inspiration have been: Iron Maiden, Type O Negative, Emperor, Woods of Ypres, Black Dahlia Murder, The Beatles, Fields of the Nephilim, Death, at a glance.

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

Hayden: I haven’t had any weird questions that I can recall. Usually, people ask me why we wear makeup, to which I’ll usually reply with, how could you forget a face like this haha. I’m sure I’ll think of one later.

Austin: A ride home in exchange for meth, shoutout Louisville, Kentucky! 

Bryan: The strangest request I have had from a fan was that he wanted me to assist in his dubstep/black metal experiment. Who knows what else he might have been experimenting with to come up with such a combination.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Hayden: I love our fans, and can’t thank them enough for their love and support.

Austin: I wish they would love us for our sick riffs and fast blast beats and not just our huge muscles and good looks.

King Morbid: Our fans are incredible.  They are the reason we are even able to do this in the first place.  We don't have fans that sit on the fence.  The Bloodcult is 100% down.

Bryan: To our fans, you have our irrevocable and eternal gratitude. Without you, this would not be possible, and I look forward to the journey we have ahead, together.

14. What do you think of our site?

Hayden: I’ve only visited it a couple of times, and I thought it was really cool. I love metal zines like this one. I really need to read more articles. 

Austin: I was a journalism major in college so any publication that writes about underground music has my respect. 

Bryan: I admire what your site does, in shedding light on the metal underground. Every little bit helps in order to keep the flame ablaze.

15. Something to add?

Hayden: Check out our album ‘Portals to Kur’ available everywhere on May 10th, follow us on all the socials, stream our stuff, and buy our merch. Every little bit really really helps us out. And come check us out at Milwaukee Metal Fest this year!

Austin: Hell Yeah Brüther! 

King Morbid: We came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass and we are all outa ass.

Bryan: Make good art.