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!!
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
