Interviews: King Heavy

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Doom Metal band, King Heavy, from Chile. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did the idea for the band name come from? Was it planned, or did it happen organically?

The band’s name was created by Luce at the legendary Doom Shall Rise festival in 2009. It was a very anecdotal moment—surrounded by metalheads, everyone very drunk, sharing, and with a huge desire to make music. That’s how the name was born: purely by chance.

2. Why did you choose to play this genre?

Doom Metal is the genre that brought us together, and from that starting point, we’ve built our friendship. However, we’ve also incorporated other accents, melodies, and influences that have given us a unique character and allowed us to keep creating music.

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

Yes. Miguel and Matías have been friends for many years. I (Daniel) have known them for 25 years now… and with the recent addition of Jorge to the band—who has been a friend for over 20 years—it feels like a long-standing family.

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

For Miguel and me, it’s definitely Judas Priest. For Jorge, I’d say it’s somewhere between Manilla Road, Candlemass, and classic Thrash. And for Matías, it’s quite diverse—from Reverend Bizarre, to The Man Eating Trees, to Anathema.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Musically, it’s a very mixed blend of styles: classic and epic doom metal with touches of heavy metal, some classic rock, and the ingredient that sets us apart—the inclusion of Latin American rhythms. In fact, the influence of Los Jaivas has been fundamental in giving us a clear identity. As for the lyrics, everything is based on magical realism—well-told stories that express feelings, situations, and different contexts.

6. Where was your last performance?

Our last show was in a town called Limache, very close to where we live and where Miguel (our drummer) currently resides. It was part of a small local Doom Metal fest featuring bands such as Marchafunebre, Mortajas, Daam, La Fiura, and we closed the night.

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

Our ideal plan is to present the new album in Chile and South America, and also return to Europe. We are already establishing the contacts needed to make that happen.

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

A tough question… of course, with all our idols. But personally, I think having guitar solos by Manolo Shaffer (Inquisición) or Andy LaRocque (King Diamond), or vocals by Messiah Marcolin would be incredible contributions and a tremendous honor someday.

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

I don’t think we would ever receive an invitation from someone completely outside our musical style… but we definitely wouldn’t take part in urban music (Reggaeton), hahaha, definitely not.

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

There’s always that nervousness before going on stage, and every musician’s fear is messing up at key moments, falling off the stage, or simply going blank. Thankfully, we’ve learned to navigate those situations—mutual respect and strong camaraderie are essential. I think the only recipe is rehearsal on one hand and confidence in your abilities on the other. With those ingredients, things shouldn’t go wrong… but one must never forget that things can fail. The real task is overcoming those moments, not letting them affect you as an artist, and delivering the show the audience deserves.

11. Which bands have influenced you the most?

It’s a wide range of bands that can be summarized as: Candlemass, Judas Priest, Marillion, Celtic Frost, Rush, Los Jaivas, Iron Maiden, Reverend Bizarre, and many more.

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

Hahaha, maybe when someone asks for your instrument… but nothing too strange so far! 

13. What do you think of your fans?

They are a key part of the whole system. Without fans, there would be no challenge or motivation to perform. They are the engine that drives us to release albums and play live. They’re the reason we work. It’s essential to remember that before becoming musicians, we were fans—and in our case, we still are! That brings us closer to people and keeps us very grounded.

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s a great site with a huge amount of content! We truly appreciate the support you give to metal worldwide. When we talked about fans being essential, the media, labels, and producers are also vital in keeping the underground alive. Without these elements, the possibility of growing and discovering new bands would be lost, and new generations wouldn’t enter the world of music.

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

We are always grateful for the work you do! We thank Witches Brew for making this album possible, and everyone who enjoys metal without filters—direct, raw, and honest—created by four metalheads thirsty for Metal!