Monday 28 April 2014

Interview with DOWAGER


Today's guests are not that well known but all that is going to change over the next 12 months or so. As these guys have just released a brilliant and heavy as fuck demo release which I described as:

Dowager is a band who you should be very afraid of!!!

Dowager's style of music is very hard to describe. Parts Doom, Sludge, Crust and hints of violent Blackened Rock and Roll. They feel like a more twisted version of Church Of Misery though with a more Rock and Roll edge.

Their demo release is simply intense from the word go. This demo release is fucking brilliant. There is no question about that. Dowager have something special about them that will see them go along way in the Doom/Sludge Metal world. I urge you to check them out now as I have a feeling we will be hearing a lot more from these dark overlords over the next 12 months or so.“

I decided to find more about this band who deal in the dark arts of Blackened Crust Sludge/Doom Metal

riffs. Ladies and Gentleman. DOWAGER.

Q1 – Hi guys. Thanks for doing this. How are things with you today.

HANNES-GUITARS, JOE-BASS/VOCALS, JK-DRUMS/SAMPLES

We are great!! cheers for asking!!


Q2 – Can you give a brief history of how the band came about and where it is today.

Joe- I formed the band as a one man blackened speed metal thing..as i was looking for like minded musicians. While i was searching..my writing style began to slow down and as i looked for uglier riffs, i found the slower tempos appealed to me more. I had been playing with JK in another band and i approached him to do DOWAGER full time. It was around this time that HANNES answered my ad on craigslist...We jammed..it worked..voila.

Q3 – Now, lets talk about your excellent new demo. We are huge fans of it here at Sludgelord HQ. Was it an easy or hard demo to record for.

Wow..cheers!! we are huge fans of the SLUDGELORD here at DOWAGER HQ!!! Ok,I had recorded LYCANTHROPIC JIHAD by myself and had that as an example of the style to give to the guys. We then went into the studio, re-recorded that, and the 2 new ones that we wrote. It was a really east process..as is writing for us. We all bring riffs and parts to the table..the songs come fast and furious..we work really well together.

Q4 – Would you change anything about it or are you happy with the final version that is being released.

We dig it..but i must say the new material is more brutal and ugly.

Q5 – What influenced you when writing and recording the album. Or did you just focus on your own thing.

Totally focused on our own thing..i think thats why people are digging it..obviously we have influences..but its got an original vibe to it..at least we think so.


Q6 – You have read my review of your demo. How would you describe it yourselves.

Honestly Steve, could not have said it better than you!!

Q7 – How would yourselves describe your overall sound. As you guys pack a lot of different sounds though. I do detect a hint of Blues Vibe lurking on some of the tracks

BLACKENED SLUDGY DOOM METAL WITH A HINT OF STONER.

Joe- That would be the vocals mostly..im a huge rock fan and i listen to EVERYTHING!!i Love the blues and hey..i love BLACK SABBATH!! Blues.. there ya go!!.Also, live at least JK brings an almost JAZZ influenced drumming style..while keeping it super slow and heavy.

Q8 – Have you received a lot of reviews of your new demo. What has the feedback been like

Your review was the first..we have gotten a lot of positive feedback..it makes us feel great that people are "getting" what were putting down..Great stuff from other bands too..really cool!

Q9 – Why the name DOWAGER for the band. Any particular reason behind this.

It refers to a type of ROYALTY..it sounded cool,and original..and were the only ones who have the name..we actually TRADEMARKED it!!

Demo cover art

Q10 – Who designed the excellent demo cover. And did you have much input into the overall design.

Joe-His name is OIK WASFUK..his company is NOTHING SACRED ARTWORK..he has been doing stuff for me for years,,he is AWESOME!! We gave him a little direction and let him run with it. Glad you like it!! He also did our tee shirt design.

Q11 – The demo release is quite a dark and brutal album. Was that the original intention to release something as dark as this.

YES!!!!!

Q12 – Do you perform gigs on a regular basis in your home town or do you have to travel further afield to perform regularly.

We play locally..But we plan to tour extensively.We have a show in May..and another in June..look for them on youtube.


Q13 – What is the song writing process in the band? Is it a group collective or is just down to one individual.

We all bring riffs and sometimes full songs to the table. Writing for us is extremely fluid. There are no egos and if we dont like something..we move on..In rehearsal we all add our touches to the other persons tune and it becomes a DOWAGER song.

Q14 – What are you thoughts on the crowd-funding scene where bands and artists ask fans to help fund their latest album, tour or release. Are you fans of this medium. Would yourselves ever go down this route.

We think its cool..if someone can get their fans to help fund them, more power to them. I dont think we'd be AGAINST doing it..its never come up.

Q15 – What is your live set-up when performing on stage. Any advanced rigs or are you guys have a more straight forward set-up.

Pretty straight forward.instruments,.amps, pedals. UGLINESS...


Q16 – Which bands and artists influenced you as musicians. Any particular bands or albums that had a great impact on your life.

JOE- Ive been influenced by everything ive ever heard, but BLACK SABBATH and ALICE COOPER, 70's rock, Blues, Thrash and Punk come to mind.. JK- BUDDY RICH, TOOL, BLACK SABBATH and the O'JAYS!! HANNES- BOTCH, CATHARSIS,CONVERGE,CURSED,DARKTHRONE,HIS HERO IS GONE (jJOE agrees), ISIS, NEUROSIS, KYUSS, MASTODON,MELVINS, PIG DESTROYER, SLAYER

Q17 – In 5 words or less, what is the live DOWAGER experience.

LOUD, HEAVY, UGLY

Q18 - If you could give any advice to people wanting to start a band what would it be.

DO IT.

Q19 - Apart from the new demo release what else do you have in store over the next 12 months or so. I heard you're recording your debut album due out this fall and you have signed to a label. Congrats on that one. Can you give us more details on what to expect

Cheers!! yeah we recently signed to DOMESTIC GENOCIDE RECORDS and have a full length scheduled for fall/winter 2014 with them. We are REALLY excited about that!! Before that, we plan on releasing our DEMO with an additional track..VERY limited on color vinyl, on our own..to tide people over til the full release..

Q20 – And finally, do you have anything to say to your fans.

Thanks to everyone who has listened and dug our sound..go to shows and keep local music alive!!! Watch out cos' were coming to your town!!


Written by Steve Howe