Interviews: Gravethorn

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Black Metal band Gravethorn 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? Was it planned, or did it just happen organically?

It actually came to me out of the blue one night a few years ago, I wasn't even sure if this was going to be a band or not at that point, but here we are! I researched to see if the name was taken and nothing came up so I used it. So many of the cool names have already been taken, so combining two words to make one seemed to work out great. I tend to lean towards band names that are nouns or adjectives, such as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Possessed, Emperor, etc, me these exude a certain amount of power right when you say it. I notice many bands nowadays that their names are more like broad statements. I won't mention names because I'm not looking to disrespect any of the bands out there that chose to use a statement as a name- some of the names are very creative, but it's just a personal difference. A few examples would be (making this up but if someone has this name, I apologize, it wasn't aimed at you, haha) something along the lines of "Angels Died Here", "The Mirror Reflects Black", or "The Soul is Broken". However, I believe there is a band called "Broken Soul", and that is a good example of how a version of the same thing with different wording can carry more strength.

2. Why did you choose to play this genre?

Extreme forms of Metal are often times just flowing in my head naturally, whether it's coming from the core of my brain organically, or if the spirits from the other side are blessing me with the gifts of sound that nobody else can hear before I put it out there, and it's very gratifying to play something out of your head and see it evolve into a complete song. I've been a lover of Metal for many years, and when that 2nd wave of Black Metal hit the US in the early 90s, I really felt like it had a certain element of completion inside me.

3. Did you know each other before forming the band?

Yes- Bob Hill (drums) and I were in the same band prior to Gravethorn, and when that band fizzled out and I started making noise that eventually became the music of Gravethorn, we talked and decided to go forward with making it an actual band and not just a project.

4. What is each band member's favorite band?

I don't think we have any particular favorites, simply because there is so much out there to explore and appreciate. For me, a few bands check a lot of boxes in my book. I love Emperor, Watain, Immolation, Blackbraid, Sabbath, The Doors, Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, and ZZ Top, as a teenager, I really thought GNR was pretty awesome up until the Use Your Illusions, I was a Roth era Van Halen fan, before Sammy. I was really a big Overkill fan until Bobby Gustafson left, they still did cool stuff after but there was something about that era with Bobby that I was aligned with. I really was into Metallica until the Black Album, and I was a big Maiden fan but after 7th Son, I was just really wrapped up in other bands for a while and focused on the bands I was newly discovering. Bob's really into the most brutal Death Metal bands, many names I've never even heard of, he really likes to deep dive, I know he likes Vitriol, Sleep Terror, Origin, Dying Fetus, Artificial Brain, Gorgasm, and Suffocation, but on the flip side, he'll bring up Gene Krupa, Jim Chapin, Buddy Rich, and Bill Ward is, in his opinion, the most underrated drummer ever!

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Spare time is a good inspiration, (laughter) when I can just sit in my studio and do everything and nothing on the guitar at the same time. If something sounds cool, I'll record it as a part, and see what can grow from that. Sometimes I'll be listening to melodic music, classical, or New Age stuff and wonder how certain passages would sound with a reverberated distortion and try doing it for fun, and you can be guaranteed I'll play it wrong, and sometimes things grow out of that. 

6. Where was your last gig?

I haven't played in a few years since we still don't have a complete band, besides doing an open mic night with Blues guitarist Rick Berthod who I've become good friends with over the years. I've had some good candidates come along but things didn't work out as hoped, whether it's with schedules, or otherwise. Things in 2025 are looking promising though. We'll see. 

7. Where would you like to perform in the future?

I'm sure it's the typical musician's dream to play on a big stage, but I've spent years playing your usual small bar gigs with bands that aren't even in your genre in front of small crowds. A few opportunities came up to play a big stage with a good crowd and a fantastic sound system with a great person behind the board making it all sound great, those are the best shows. My last band with Bob did a battle of the bands in that environment, and (as we were told) we completely dominated that night. Everything fell into place perfectly, but unfortunately, one of our members developed very serious health issues immediately afterward. Otherwise, I'd say it was the perfect show.

8. Which artist or band would you like to collaborate with?

Is it to appear on a compilation or a split CD or something? I'm not sure, We've been getting many comparisons to bands like Marduk, Darkthrone, Satyricon, etc, so clearly that would bring our value up to appear with them in some capacity. Financially, let's face it if someone like Metallica or Ozzy said "We want to do something with you", you're going to be all ears, hahaha. We're really just here to see what the world offers, and hoping what we create falls into the ears of those who want or even need to hear it.

9. Is there anyone you wouldn’t want to collaborate with?

Yes, but I wouldn't give them the pleasure of seeing their name in print here.

10. Have any of you ever experienced stage fright? Do you have any tips for beginners on overcoming it?

The funny thing is, I used to be drunk for many years, and when I was in bands years ago, I'd drink, sometimes a LOT before going on stage, thinking I was not only calming my nerves down (which didn't work) but keeping my throat conditioned to do the vocals properly (also didn't work). I quit drinking alcohol just over 15 years ago and for any show I did after that, the anxiety prior to a show was far less than previously, I also learned that coffee or tea is much better for my throat than cold beverages. It's something that you have 2 choices, much like a fight. You can face your anxiety and get to the other side of it on your terms, or you can cower and let them win. Not every show is going to be perfect or even good, but at least let it be on your own terms.

11. Which bands have influenced you the most?

So many over the years. Sabbath, Maiden, Motorhead, Metallica, Deicide, Emperor, Belphegor, Dark Funeral, Watain, Winterfellyth, and I'm still being inspired by bands every day. We live in an era with unlimited music to just grab out of the air, unlike years ago when you had to purchase everything, there's seriously an unlimited catalog to pick from.

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

Honestly, I'm lucky enough to never have been asked for anything weird, to be honest. I think those types of things are pretty rare or even embellished for clicks sometimes. One time about 30 years ago, I had a fresh tattoo on my leg, and a girl at a bar asked if she could lick it. Plasma and ointment oozing from it and everything. But she wasn't a fan, this was way before Gravethorn, haha. Still pretty weird though.

13. What do you think of your fans?

So far, everyone has been amazing, seriously, I can't thank them enough. We're clicking really well with a great deal of people. I feel like we're the Dark Horse coming out of nowhere because people have said things like "We're a pleasant surprise", Mark's Metal Minute channel on YouTube had some really amazing things to say about us including Creeping Death being one of his favorite metal covers of 2024! Reviews have been nothing short of spectacular, This page has been great to us and the press has been amazing.

14. What do you think of our site?

Love it man, It's a great site, has easy navigation, and shows up with no issues on Google, you're doing it right..

15. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Just a simple Thank You to everyone who has been behind us and supporting us throughout this time. In this world of chaos, the fans, press, radio stations, Wormholedeath Records and all involved with the underground metal scene have made this truly a wonderful ride so far, and I hope our latest offering "Atrocitas" checks off all the boxes on what the fans want to hear. Thank you.