It's
quite rare for me to buy a Vinyl Record before I have finished
listening to the whole album. But that's what I did with today's
guests immense début album – Far Dark Helm.
I
described the album as:
“Dwell's
début album – For Dark Helm – is a disturbing and chilling tale
where the world is on the edge of destruction and you can feel that
depressing atmosphere through out the album.
hey
deserve credit for being miserable as hell. It gives the album a more
destructive and thought provoking feel to it. The last two tracks –
Far Dark Helm Pt 2 and For Dark Helm Pt 3 – carries on the sonic
assault with determined accuracy. It's one powerful ride you will not
want to end.
The
album is a brilliantly executed affair from start to finish with an
excellent uncompromising story to tell. If it's good enough for Noah
Landis then it's good enough for you. Awesome as hell. End Of.”
I
wanted to find more about these guys as this album is seriously a
stunning and dark mysterious affair that will have you coming back
for more. And any band that can get Noah Landis from Neurosis to
record and master their début album must have something about them.
Ladies
and Gentleman – It's time to talk to DWELL.
Q1
– Hi guys. Thanks for doing this. How are things with you all
today.
Things
are alright with us. Keeping up with the perpetual grind as usual and
keeping our heads above water. Tucker has left Dwell in pursuit for
Thailand travels and we have brought on board our good friend, Riley
on drums who is helping write the next Dwell album.
All
is good in the western front and we’ll keep putting out the tunes
as long as we’re breathing through these lungs.
Q2
– Can you tell our readers a brief history on how the band started
and where it is today.
The
band started as a collaboration between Tucker and Sam. Chris Clarke
joined with Randall Day( ex-Collapse) to write rhythm and bass riffs
when they arrived in Oakland from Texas. Randall’s riffs are
featured on early Dwell tracks and the Demo you can find on our band
camp. Randall then left Dwell and California to pursuit old ventures
in Texas. The Trio dynamic has sense taken much presidency with
Dwell.
Today
we’re looking at potential label options and taking the next step
from our foundation as a band.
Q3
– So. How would you describe your sound. Doom, Sludge, Post-Metal.
Or something far more sinister.
Slapping
a label on Dwell is like slapping a label on water. We have and will
take many forms but will consistently be Dwell. We haven’t
necessarily strived to become something specific, but rather
developed our sound as a result of our journey. We have a lot of
Doom, Sludge, Post-Metal influences but don’t have any attachments
to specific genres.
If
we come off as sinister it is simply because there is a lot to be
said about the energy Dwell comes from. Our intention is not to
project this negativity, but to offer insight and perspective into
our surroundings.
Q4
– How did you all become involved with music.
We
all came from various backgrounds, but all share a deep appreciation
for heavy music and have had, in one form or another, strong
connections to music our entire lives. Mostly we are all driven by
the idea of a progressive sound that would evolve and take on many
forms.
Q5
– Why the name DWELL. Any specific meaning behind it.
We
chose Dwell because it was very definitive our personal experiences.
We all have individually dwelled as subjects in a shared reality, and
we reflect what it is that we undergo and what we witness within our
personal realms. To dwell is to be a part of your surroundings and
beat with the network.
Dwell
embodied our purpose of creating this music and telling our story.
Q6
– What is the overall concept of the album for people that haven't
heard it.
The
concept for Far Dark Helm focuses on the distant forces that watch
over us. Those who hold the reigns, man the ship, and pull the
trigger. To the unseen faces behind the helm, we are pawns in a game,
and this album reflects our minimal influence.
Q7
– Noah Landis of Neurosis fame recorded and mastered it. How did
you guys hook up with Noah. And what was it like working with him.
Chris
met Noah a year or so back and conveyed our concept. We have always
been fond of Neurosis, and owe them our roots in the Bay Area metal
scene. Noah had always brought his very best to the table for
Neurosis and various projects, and we really could not have asked for
anyone better to help bring our artistic vision into reality. I mean,
we live in Oakland and it’s a small fucking world. We live amongst
our heroes and work with them to keep our musical scene alive. Noah
has been there for Oakland and we ultimately were fortunate enough to
work with him.
Q8
– Did he give you any helpful advice when you were making the
album.
Noah
definitely helped mold our idea of this vinyl. Noah gave us room to
think and helped wind the river to get to the sea. Recording on
actual tape was the best thing we could’ve done.
Q9
– Why did you call the album – Far From Helm. Any particular
meaning behind it.
It’s
about who is behind the wheel and how we play into this long
division.
Q10
– Which bands and artists influenced you as musicians. Any
particular band or album that stand out.
We
love the Melvins, Kyuss, Sleep, My Dying Bride, Salome, Isis, Tool,
and Cult of Luna. Not to mention, Zeppelin, CCR, Pink Floyd, The
Allman Brothers, and many others!
Q11
– What is the song-writing process in the band. Is it down to one
individual or is it a group collective.
Sam
and Chris do most of the writing and always have a concept in mind.
They bring it to the table and everyone contributes. From there Dwell
only further evolves.
Q12
– Your album is being released on Vinyl. Are you releasing this
album yourselves on Vinyl. If so did you have any offers from a
Record label to release your music.
We
released the album totally DIY. That’s Dwell. DIY. We have since
then been hit up by labels and our currently weighing out our
options. We shall see…
Q13
– How big of a help has BandCamp and the Doom/Sludge community been
in promoting your music.
Band
Camp has been a huge help for Dwell. But more importantly it’s
blogs like yourself that keep us going. We are definitely a part of
that generation that looks to the internet for the new, freshest,
dankest shit that hits our ears.
Q14
– What influenced you when writing the album – Far Dark Helm. As
it goes to some pretty dark places.
When
you live in Oakland its pretty easy to hit those dark places. It’s
home and we love it. Yet, no one will lie to you and tell you its
safe. No one will sit there and tell you its humble. Oakland can be
cut throat and embodies a great deal of American history dealing with
civil rights and the liberties of the unjust. Nothing is yours. Not
even your life. Fight for what you have and strive for what you want.
A lot of us don’t have much so we hold on tightly to what we have
got.
Q15
– What is your musical set-up when playing live or recording your
music. Any hints and tips would you like to give to the budding
musicians out there.
Sam
plays out of a Sovtek custom fitted head , a Mesa Boogie 4x10 cab and
a 4x12 peavey cab with a mostly Boss setup. Chris has a California
B-52 tri-rectifier head he has custom fitted with 4x12 Crate cab with
Celestion Speakers and a 2x12 Blackstar open back cab. Chris also has
a mostly Boss pedal setup. Drums are a stand alone basic 4 piece
setup.
To
our fellow doom/sludge heads, play music that you have fun playing
rather than worrying about trying to play something that you think
people will like. Create a sound that truly pleases you, and play
loud as fuck!
Q16
– We are massive Vinyl Heads here at Sludgelord. Are you vinyl fans
yourselves.
Chris
is huge in to vinyl, and we are all tone junkies. Chris encouraged
the idea of releasing the digital format for free and charging for
vinyl. There is so much warmth and depth on vinyl. Sonic qualities
aside, we felt that providing vinyl is the best way for people to
have a physical form of our music in the day and age of digital
music.
Q17
– Do you guys perform a lot of gigs in your home town or do you
have to travel further afield to perform regularly.
We
perform about once every two months, usually just taking offers as
they come. Sometimes we get a streak of shows but that hasn’t
proven to be what were about. Our sets run an average of 45 minutes
to an hour to play a minimally comfortable set. We have played with
many great musicians and bands whom we love. Being part of a densely
populated area with such an involved metal scene, we take what we can
get so Dwell can keep making the music we love.
Q18
– What is your verdict on the whole crowd-funding scene. Where
bands ask fans to fund their next album. Are you a fan of that
platform. Would yourselves ever go down this route.
We
grew up in a generation where you could download any goddamn record
you pleased. In a time in which Labels dominated what everyone
listened to and most people would know nothing beyond what they were
fed. Bands need funding but more importantly in this saturated scene
they need exposure. They need to get there shit out there!
Crowd-funding can be a way for fans to meaningfully support a band
without any interference from a middle-man. One of our biggest
influences, Cult of Luna, had to get funded by their fans to release
what we believe was one of the most impeccable albums of 2013. You
have to do what you have to do. Always remember your roots and who
has helped you grow.
Q19
– If you could give any advice to someone wanting to start a band.
What would it be.
Don’t
look back. Making music is a process. You will learn. You will
stress. You will grow. There are many components to making music, yet
there are many more to being in a band. You’re a family and you
must give as much as you receive in any such endeavor. Always
remember why your dong what your doing. Most importantly have fucking
fun.
Q20
– The last thing before you go, Do you have anything else to say to
your fans.
We
would like to thank all of you for your support. We hope this record
resonates and we’re excited to share our new work with you soon.
Well
guys. Thanks for doing this. All the best with the album.
You
can buy this album on Buy Now Download/Vinyl from BandCamp now.
Check
The Band From Links Below
Written by Steve Howe
