Interviews: Eternal Dialtone

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Psychedelic Stoner Rock band Eternal Dialtone from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their INSTAGRAM PROFILE.

1. Where did the name Eternal Dialtone come from, and how does it connect to the hypnotic, looping nature of your sound?

Growing up without smartphones, anytime you lifted the receiver, you heard the dial tone. It sort of just goes on forever.

I wish the story were more exciting than that, but it is really hard to find a band name that satisfies everyone.

We wanted something light-hearted that was easy to spell, pronounce, search for, and didn’t immediately typecast us as a certain type of band. We tried for over a month. This was the only suggestion that got a thumbs up from all 3 of us.

2. Was this project something you planned from the start, or did it come together organically out of jam sessions and shared musical chemistry?

We had been jamming for about 4 months before we had a sense of what we were doing. I think we were working through some trauma from our previous band. While Steve (bass) and I (guitar) have been playing music together on and off for 15 years, I hadn’t played with Burke (drums) before - and he doesn't play drums in any other bands. So we had to settle in and learn how to work together. Lucky for Steve and me, Burke is a totally natural drummer, songwriter, and all-around friend. He’s super easy to work with.

3. Your debut leans heavily into psych stoner rock with elements of doom and improvisation. What drew you toward this direction compared to your previous bands?

By process of elimination, Giza was straight-up thundering sludge doom, and X Suns has always had a more space metal sound. Dust moth has a doom gaze lane. We didn’t want to revisit those energies.

My playing and tones really evolved during the Witchrat years, and from moving into a place where I could make music more often and organically at home. I cycled through a lot of different guitars, amps, pedals, and strings before settling into my sound.

4. With members coming from acts like Dust Moth, Giza, and Witchrat, did you all know each other beforehand, or did this lineup form more unexpectedly?

Steve (bass) and I (Rich - Guitar) met around the end of 2010. We became friends and started jamming on an early version of what would become Giza, our previous band (giza.bandcamp.com). We met Burke by playing shows with two of his old bands (Caligula and Bitches Crystal - I’m not sure if any links exist for them, but if you were there, you know they rule!). I was also playing in another band (X Suns- https://xsuns.bandcamp.com/), which Burke later joined after I quit, and Steve also now plays in. So in a sense, we’re all family.

After Giza, I started a group called Witchrat (witchrat.bandcamp.com). It was a 3-piece part stoner rock part shoegaze, but all mess. After we established a rehearsal space and got our set together, COVID hit. As we finished our first record, Witchrat’s bass player had to move out of state for family issues. Steve stepped in (while playing in Dust Moth and X Suns) and we wrote a new record. Then, and tragically, Witchrat’s drummer got injured while we were recording. He hasn’t been able to play drums since. The record was abandoned after tracking. It felt like the band was cursed.

So, Steve and I decided to start from scratch. He mentioned our situation to Burke, also asking him if he knew any drummers who would be interested. To both of our surprise, Burke revealed he also plays drums and said he’d be happy to come out and jam with us. We’ve known him for 15 years and didn’t know he was also a drummer. We’ve been rocking ever since!

5. Each of you comes from a different musical background. What are some of your personal all-time favorite bands that shaped your playing?

For me, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is my all-time favorite band, and I am completely obsessed with them. I grew up on Sabbath and Nirvana. I know Steve really likes a wide range of stuff, with some of his favorites being Mono, the Mermen, and DJ Shadow. We both share a love of stoner metal like Sleep and YOB, as well as indie rock like Archers of Loaf and Sonic Youth. Burke is into all kinds of hardcore, metal, and punk, as well as classics like Prince and various hair metal. We are all very open when it comes to music.

6. The record feels very immersive and almost ritualistic at times. What inspires you when writing and building these long-form, hypnotic tracks?

When I was eight years old, I started listening to Black Sabbath, and " Electric Funeral " was my favorite song. Later, I got into Nirvana and records like in utero that kind of go all over the place sonically (e.g., Scentless apprentice and Dumb). After that, I got into Sleep, and of course, Dopesmoker is one of the coolest records of all time, as well as everything OM has ever done- so we approach music already with this ritualistic long form headspace burnt in.

It’s just the kind of stuff we all like.

7. Recording in a former Catholic church is a wild choice. How did that environment გავლuence the sound and atmosphere of the album?

The room sounds huge, and feels huge while you’re playing in it. You can really hear it on the drums. That building is really unique and has had a lot of life, and now it’s an incredible recording studio. But it’s also been a community space with lots of live music. It’s really special.

8. The 13-minute run time of the release really stands out. Can you walk us through how that came together and evolved?

Our only constraint was how much we could track in one day. It sort of forced us to pick the best and prioritize. We actually wrote and recorded the songs in the same order they are on the EP.

9. The production team behind this record is stacked. What was it like working with Nicholas Wilbur, Matt Bayles, and Ed Brooks to bring this vision to life?

Their each incredible and it’s a pleasure to work with them. I feel so lucky to have such talented professionals who focus on the type of music I like nearby.

Matt’s recorded many of my favorites- from Mastodon to the Murder City Devils.

10. The album artwork has a striking, otherworldly feel. What’s the story behind it, and how does it tie into the music?

It reminds me of the classic covers of 80s role-playing games and novels, like the Dungeons and Dragons Dragonlance Chronicles. It couldn't be more appropriate!

11. Have you had a chance to perform this material live yet? If so, where was your last gig, and how did the songs translate on stage?

Not yet, but you can book us by reaching out to eternaldialtone@gmail.com

12. Given the expansive nature of your sound, what kind of venues or settings would you love to play in the future?

I would love for us to play outside at night in the mountains or desert and connect our tunes with Gaia.

13. If you could collaborate with any artist, especially within the psych, doom, or experimental scene, who would be at the top of your list?

Simple answer for me- King Gizzard. I would love to revisit the MindFuzz or Murder of the Universe (MOTU) double drummer era with Burke sitting in as the second drummer. I'm happy to play whatever instrument is necessary to make that happen!

14. On the flip side, is there anyone you feel just wouldn’t be the right fit for what Eternal Dialtone is about?

Setting aside any big commercial pop artists (that's just not us), it seems like a lot of bands are locked into a particular style before they even write a song. This holds equally for punk rock, stoner doom, psych, thrash metal, death metal, etc., where the band sees the genre as their identity. It's not uncommon for their equipment to be specialized to do that one thing really well. Some of these bands have made albums I love, but I don't think Eternal Dialtone would be the right group to collaborate with.

15.With such immersive and free-flowing music, do nerves ever creep in before a performance, or does the improvisational nature make it easier to get into the zone?

We know and trust each other so well that it hasn't been an issue. It's always fun.

16. What advice would you give to newer bands trying to find their own sound in a crowded heavy music scene?

Follow your heart.

17. You’ve been compared to bands like Earthless and Fu Manchu. Which influences do you feel are most present on this record?

We are big fans of both! The final version of the record feels more like a rough instrumental Fu Manchu 7" than Earthless LP (to me)- but I think we're very inspired by both of them, among others.

18. What’s been the most unexpected or strange reaction you’ve gotten from listeners so far?

Although the records have only been out for four days, a surprising number of my friends told me they really enjoyed listening to it while riding bikes or skateboarding. I thought it was really cool to connect our music with activities like that.

19. The album artwork has a striking, otherworldly feel. What’s the story behind it, and how does it tie into the music?

It reminds me of the classic covers of 80s role playing games and novels, like the Dungeons and Dragons Dragonlance Chronicles. It couldn't be more appropriate!

20. What are your thoughts on platforms like Breathing The Core Zine supporting underground releases like yours?

These sorts of platforms are crucial for artists to get word-of-mouth out. The big streaming services don’t do anything to help discover music like us. Since we’re not on a label or a touring band, I don’t think anyone outside of our local area (I.e., our friends) would hear of us if it weren’t for platforms like this. Thank you so much for supporting all these unique artists.

21. Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to fans, promoters, or anyone just discovering Eternal Dialtone?

Thanks for taking a few minutes to learn about our album. You can find it on all the streaming services and Bandcamp for free.

It’s tough out there. Be kind to one another.

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