Interviews: Ruinforge

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

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

Aside from music, I also work as a visual artist, and ruins are the subject matter of a lot of my work, so it had to be in there. A few similar variations of the name lingered in my head for a while, but the name Ruinforge felt perfect and captured some of the folk metal inspiration.

2. Why did you choose to play this genre?

Melodic death metal has been my favorite genre since first hearing Children of Bodom as a kid. I've since gone through all sorts of phases with adjacent metal genres, but I always find myself back here. It's just the perfect storm of melody, intensity, and emotion.

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

Ruinforge is currently a solo project. I write, perform, and mix it myself.

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

My favorite band would have to be Wintersun.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I'm very motivated by myths and ancient stories. My songs usually start as folk melodies or lyrics for stories I invent. In a different sense, I also just make the music that I want to hear more of.

6. Where was your last gig?

I’ve never performed as Ruinforge, though I would like to form a lineup and start one day. So technically, my last gig was with a band covering a Red Hot Chili Peppers song in my High School gym 20 years ago.

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

I live in the Atlanta, GA area, which has a great metal scene. I'd like to start there and go wherever fans exist.

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

At the moment, no bands specifically. I'm mainly concerned with finding my own voice within the genre. However, I'd love to have a lineup of musicians to specialize in each respective instrument and give it the mastery it needs.

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

Sure, no one who’s a shitty person, but that's a pretty easy answer. I think as long as it makes sense musically, I would be pretty open-minded.

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

I can't speak much to this, but I've performed for a music video, and the imagined online audience gave me a different type of stage fright. Since I was also directing the video, I was stressed by both the performance and the directing. What made the biggest difference for me was breaking down all issues into small, solvable issues so that I wasn't juggling them all at once. I knew I didn't want to look stupid when playing, so I rehearsed with a camera by myself to figure out what looked good versus what looked bad. Solving the small problems allowed me to focus only on performing with confidence and clarity.

11. Which bands have influenced you the most?

The big three for me are Children of Bodom, Wintersun, and Ensiferum. Maybe underneath all of it - Iron Maiden.

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

Feet pictures, of course.

13. What do you think of your fans?

They have been nothing but kind and friendly. The genre itself has great fans, and I'm happy to make music for them.

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s a very impressive compendium of artists and is amazing for bands like mine who are trying to reach more fans.

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

Thanks for the interview, and be sure to check out the music video for my upcoming single - Unforetold - 10/17/25!