Interviews: Hel Hath Fury

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Melodic Death Metal band Hel Hath Fury from the USA. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Was it planned, or did it just happen organically?

Sara: This one was all Alexis. It’s a play on the phrase “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” but we changed “hell” to “Hel” - the half-dead, half-living goddess who rules Helheim, the realm of the dead who do not die in battle.

2. Why did you choose to play this genre?

Sara: When Alexis and Zach started the whole band, Alexis posted about starting a melodic death metal project, and that is Zach’s favorite genre of metal. He had been looking to join a melodic death metal project. I personally like melodic death metal since, in my opinion, it has more depth in the musical element of metal than many other genres. I really like that you can tell a story just with the instrumentals since there’s so much feeling that can be expressed just through melody. And I love the contrast of harsh vocals against beautiful, catchy melodies and rhythms. To me, it’s like the perfect combination of sounding pretty while being brutal.

Zach: Melodic death metal has always been a favorite of mine. The intensity of metal can be blended with inspirations from all kinds of genres to make beautiful or haunting melodies to express any number of emotions.

Alexis: I've always been captivated by melodic death metal, far before I learned to do the harsh vocals. The genre allowed me to connect with it no matter what emotion I was feeling. I want to be that connection to others.

Case: I didn't necessarily “choose” to play melodic death metal. I'm not really a metal drummer, but when I met Zach and Sara, they needed a drummer, and I got really into the style just from listening to their album while I was preparing for tryouts.

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

Sara: We did not all know each other before forming the band. Alexis was the one who initially wanted to start a melodic death metal project, and she posted to Facebook looking for members. Zach responded and pulled in Sara. Joey and Zach take lessons from the same guitar teacher, who recommended Joey when we were looking for a second guitar player early in the band's inception. And we actually met Case this year when Zach’s other project, Warcrown, was playing a show on Valentine's Day.

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

Sara: This is a tough one! I’d have to say probably Dark Tranquility; however, recently I’ve been really digging Aephanemer. I haven’t heard a single song by them that I don’t like, so they are climbing the ranks for me.

Zach: All melodic death metal that comes out of Finland is amazing, but Children of Bodom has always been my favorite.

Alexis: I definitely have to say Arch Enemy. I love the melodies, and with the vocals following, it creates a blend that captures me. Their music is the reason I learned harsh vocals, and gave me the drive to stand in front of a group of people; it was only karaoke, but that's how I started.

Joey: I've always loved Trivium. So they are always in my top bands. It kinda changes as the year goes on. Make Them Suffer has been huge for me this year. BUT I'll go one further and say, probably one of my favorite guitar players is Nick Hipa

Case: Huge fan of Return to Forever. Being a jazz drummer, I listened to a good amount of metal, but never more than jazz and old fusion albums. Fell in love with the complexity of the drum parts. Lenny White and Airto Moreira really got me into expanding my musical vocabulary

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Sara: We all participate in songwriting and have different approaches. I personally really enjoy tying what I’m bringing to a story - whether that story is reflected in lyrics or just what it means to me. So I write very much based on feel and emotion, and love referencing literature like books and poems, or for one song, I based it on my favorite movie series. Then I write bass parts to that as if I’m making the soundtrack to whatever my inspiration is.

Zach: Inspiration comes from a lot of places for me. How I’m feeling always sets the tone, but honestly, it usually starts with a cool riff idea or trying to implement a new technique that I haven’t mastered yet.

Alexis: My inspiration comes from the life I have lived. The lyrics are my way of telling others that they're not alone. 

Joey: I usually get inspiration from how I'm feeling emotionally at the time. I've also gained a lot of inspiration from video games I play, and I relate the lore to actual life topics. For example, Nier Automata basically sums up what life's meaning and our purpose?

Case: I usually try to write to the guitars. Feel like that makes things a little more interesting, notes to the drum parts. Also, still haven't gotten out of the habit of throwing jazz chops into my fills

6. Where was your last gig?

Sara: At Black Sky Brewery with Darconigan, Ob Nixilus, Eramis, and Burning through Darkness. Shout out to Black Sky and our friends that played with us - it was a blast!

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

Sara: My dream is pretty simple - I would really like to play the Oriental Theater in Denver sometime.

Zach: After attending the metal-themed cruise, 70,000 Tons of Metal, a couple of times, nothing seems cooler than playing on the pool deck of that ship.

Alexis: I would love to play at an outdoor festival, at least once, to see what it's like.

Joey: Somewhere big in the U.K.

Case: Really got into the metal and punk scene of Japan when I visited, and think it'd be really cool to play there or anywhere international, really

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

Sara: I’m really into metal bands with woman power in them. If we could collaborate with Aephanemer, Frantic Amber, Lutharo, or Hiraes, that would be unreal.

Zach: I would love to collaborate with more non-metal artists. I want to see what we can do with some less-typical instruments like violin, saxophone, mandolin, etc.

Alexis: Definitely agree with Zach. I really want a song to open with a violin. If I had to name a specific band, though, it would definitely be Hiraes.

Case: I think branching out to bands that play the weirder genres of metal would be really cool, like death jazz. Just have a really weird time.

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

Sara: No one in particular - I just wouldn’t want to collaborate with jerks. If you’re full of yourself or don’t treat others with respect, then I’m not really interested in working with you, no matter how talented or even prominent that artist is.

Joey: I have a few artists that I refuse to listen to, so I guess that would mean I wouldn't want to work with them….but I'll keep that list private, haha

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

Sara: Pretty much every show, I feel anxious the day of and before I get on stage. I think my one big tip would be to REALLY prepare for the show. Personally, just remembering that we have put in the work with practice, I’m around people I trust, and I’m doing something I enjoy - that really helps soothe the performance anxiety more than anything. Once I play the first couple of notes, I feel all the preparation and confidence take hold, and the feeling of stage fright or anxiety passes.

Zach: I agree with Sara. In addition, I’m learning that how you look on stage is just as important as how you sound. I try to trust myself that I’ve played our music so much that the notes will come from muscle memory, and I can focus on being exciting and entertaining.

Alexis: I was nervous about the first time I sang Karaoke, but I pushed through it. Then I was nervous about having to speak in front of a crowd, so I ran a couple of karaoke shows and became comfortable with that. My advice is to start small and keep going because it is worth it.

Case: I never really got stage fright, per se, but also when I first started playing gigs, I was always wicked high, so not much bothered me. Now that I'm not getting blitzed before every show, I just kinda clear my mind and just listen to our music to prepare for the show. You kinda have to act like no one else is in that room and just focus on what you're doing to play the best for the rest of the band.

11. Which bands have influenced you the most?

Sara: For me, it’d have to be Dark Tranquility and Jinjer. I love the melodies of Dark Tranquility, and Jinjer has some incredible basslines that really inspire me in my writing.

Zach: There is probably something to learn and take away from any artist, but I’ve really been taking influence from Moonlight Sorcery for hauntingly beautiful melodies and solos recently.

Alexis: Arch Enemy definitely has some influence on the style and flow of lyrics, as does Amon Amarth. But inspiration has come from all over the place, like The Pretty Reckless and Icon For Hire.

Joey: This kind of goes hand in hand with my favorite bands. But As I Lay Dying's guitar work is fantastic. I don't listen to them after some of the events that happened with their vocalist. But their guitar writing is on another level. Then I'd have to say Allegaeon, my mind can't comprehend how they play some of their stuff.

Case: I listen to a lot of prog metal like Meshuggah, Gojira, Dream Theater, and practice the really complex stuff, so I feel like I'm getting my ass kicked, so I can start being a better drummer for this group

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

Sara: If we’re talking literally, to take a hot beef injection with them. That’s a shot at Black Sky Brewery, where you take a shot of whiskey chased with a shot of beef au jus, so not that weird with context, but definitely weird as a sentence. “Stick to her like glue… I love glue!” Joey, when I was in my first band, some people wanted me to sign their arms, no joke.

Case: When I was with a jazz band, we'd always take a taxidermied iguana to all of our shows and take shots out of its mouth after our set, and a member of the crowd asked if he could also partake

13. What do you think of your fans?

Sara: They are amazing! The amount of support we get from the people around us is unfounded. We really could not have accomplished anywhere near the number of things we have done without the support of those around us, so truly, we are grateful.

Zach: We have an awesome community in Denver - everyone is super supportive, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to get out and experience local music. 

Alexis: I say it at most shows, but we have all chosen this space, these sounds, despite what others might think, and to me, that makes us family. They are so supportive, and I just hope that I can give them an experience that can come close to paying them back for it.

Case: Solid group of lads. They like us, so they can't be that bad

14. What do you think of our site?

Sara: It looks very nice! I’m definitely going to check out some of the interviews and other releases you guys have. I love discovering new music and new bands! 

Zach: I love it. I’ve added some of the Spotify playlists and I’m razzed to learn about some new projects.

Alexis: I have found that I fall into a pattern of listening to the biggest, most prominent bands, so I’ve been using your site to find other music from other bands. I love the site and the new things for me.

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

Sara: Just please take a listen to our new single, Never Again, coming out on October 10th! We are going to have an awesome music video shot by Michael Hilmes and his team at AEP Productions. And shout out to the local Colorado businesses that allowed us to use their space - Mutiny Cafe and Comics, and Old 121 Brewhouse.