Talking with . . . Drawn And Quartered
Interviewed 1/2/2004 by Brett VanPut
Interview with guitarist K.S. Kuciemba
The Northwest has become a haven for great underground extreme metal. Check the local Portland map and you won't have to look far to discover bands like Drawn And Quartered, Serpens Aeon, Thy Infernal, Engorged, and Lord Gore. The members of these bands are often found in others. Drawn And Quartered are one of the best death metal bands around. They released a debut, To Kill is Human in 1999 and returned with an e.p. last year, before recording their excellent new disc, Extermination Revelry. Here is guitarist K.S. Kuciemba to tell us all about himself and Drawn And Quartered.
You've been around for about a decade now- what changes have you observed in the metal scene?
This is a tough question. Of course death and black metal have changed. There are still a million clones. A lot of moshpit death metal and "cult" black metal, cool if that's what you want to play or hear. The revival of thrash and retro thrash and thrash influences and
elements all over the place. I like this. Doom and power metal lumbers on in many forms. Iron Maiden return with Bruce and three guitarists, pretty cool. Judas Priest reforming after the quite good Halford and the not so great last couple Priest albums. We got to see the reunion of Black Sabbath, can't complain about that. Some promising
bands like Amorphis, Grave, Entombed quit playing cool uderground death metal and went in different directions. Slayer is still out there kicking ass live at least with Dave Lombardo again. Not much has changed. There seems to be a limited market for metal, yet it still continues to grow. Whats next? Commercial acceptance of extreme forms of metal as hip hop goes away- one could only hope. Why? So we can quit our fucking day jobs. Not much has changed in that area.
It's been almost four years since the debut full length, how has your sound developed and changed in the meantime?
With some touring experience and after opening for many of the biggest bands in death metal, we certainly sharpened our skills. I also bought new gear and added new sounds and effects to the mix, have included a lot more solos and continue to develop the compositions. I have attended school for guitar repair and worked in a guitar factory, therefore maximizing the sounds and playability of my own collection of axes. We have all performed and recorded with various side projects and bands, experimenting with techniques and styles bringing that into the mix. I was taking a guitar class weekly, and contiue to develop playing wise. Of course over the years there have been some amazing records put out that have inspired us or influenced us one way or another, not to mention the classics that kickstarted this band in the first place.
Why are you such an enthusiastic death metal band? What do you think of the genre these days?
We all like different bands, styles and genres of music. I don't purchase that much death metal. I like some death bands and some black metal bands. I like to collect stuff on vinyl. We all have things we strive for in the music some of them are common influences. I love to write music and everyone loves to contribute. There are no lack of new songs, riffs or ideas. We have developed the abiity to realy flow when we write. We have been cramming many new songs and riifs in lately. We work hard. I have been adding new elements into our songs. We feel like there is plenty of room to explore
in this field. Elements such as grim black feeling ideas, doomy parts, brutal chaos parts, heavy technical parts, thrashy riffs, groovy pinch harmonic parts, creepy ghost bends, depth adding harmonies and chords,dark classical inspired arrangements, catchy death riffs. I think the variety is our strength and may carry us to the next level. We have many influences, lots of cool stuff to borrow from and our job is to put it together so it sounds like something new or at least make it sound good. That is the bottom line hopefully. As for the genre, I still follow my main favorites, a few killer new breed bands and I love the Carcass worship bands. I enjoy some killer black metal as well.
Why has the Northwest spawned so many great, sick underground death and black metal bands?
There are a lot of great bands in this region: Blood Ritual, Serpens Aeon, In Memorium, Thy Infernal, Winter Of Apocalypse, In Memorium, Whore, Engorged, Lord Gore and much talent in the forthcoming bands such as Funeral Age, Myiasis, Scorched Earth, Sol Negro, Infernal Legion, Azimuth. There are a ton of bands really, many with the right idea. I don't know why. Some people do gravitate here. Many of us are originally from the area. There is nothing to do except listen to and play music. There is easy access to instruments, gear, recording, and rehearsal facilities. Anyone can make a c.d. Anyone can put together a band. There have been some success and that inspires the rest to soldier on. This area has always supported metal. There are millions of bands around here. Less than 1 percent are black and death metal. Thanks to Moribund Records and Razorback Records a lot of bands from this region have been able to release records.
What bands do you feel you have developed a friendship with or have a similar outlook?
We have hung out with many cool bands such as Cannibal Corpse, Immolation, and Incantation, and learned from them. Not to mention the locals I mentioned. We like to smoke pot and worship Satan. Or at least hate stupid fucking Christians together.
What type of day jobs do you have? I remember reading one member had an English degree?
I have been trying to develop other sources of income to allow more flexibilty. Over
the past couple of years I have worked in a guitar factory and a record label. I also do guitar repair and some other side jobs. I do have a part time on call job. It's tough to not pursue another carreer and have a more comfortable life. I was developing a career as a chef and have had many, sometimes multiple jobs in restaraunts and hotels. Sometimes
tough choices have to be made, and I pursue a path of less hours/ resopnsibilty. I am much happier spending more time working on the band and playig music in general. Gradually more and more income is coming from music. Our singer has a degree in English. He is the least bit diversified in regards to sources of income. Should have studied more math.
What type of economy do you have out west?
The economy around here is in poor shape. Despite the rich Microsoft people and the Warehouser and Boeing companies, some other tech stuff and Starbucks, there's currently
huge unemployment. There are millions of taxes, fees and permits you have to pay for. Gas and luxuries are outrageous. The stores have to sell stuff cheap or no one will buy. Fierce competition, retail wise. Local bands don't get paid shit. Very few people go to most local metal shows. We play around here way too much. But we like playing. It is tough to live by yourself, rents can be outrageuos. But there is some cheap rents around here. Average folks work two jobs to make ends meet.
How difficult is it to get Drawn And Quartered out on the road and playing shows? Do you have a favorite place to play?
It is no problem to get us out on the road and playing shows. I would like to have professional. There are plans in the works for tours of the States next year. We have gone all over on our own in the past. I'm reluctant to go out unless it is booked properly or if we get a support slot somehow. We need to make it count. Going into debt or being
homeless isn't goint to take the band any further. So we eagerly await some opportunites. One way or another we will do some touring next year. We don't have our van anymore so that is also an issue.
Are you or other members involved in other bands?
We all do or have done various projects, bands and recordings. Dario Derna is our drummer. He has performed and recorded with many bands also as a vocalist and/ or keys; Infester, Meat Shits, Evoken, Abazagorath. Greg Reeves our bass player has been in hundreds of local rock, metal and blues bands. Greg, Dario, and myself are discussing me joining a Black Sabbath tribute band with them. They have an Ozzy set and I want to do a Dio set, so we'll see if we can do that for money locally. Herb Burke, our vocalist, sings in Belt Fed Weapon, does vocals and bass in my side project Winds Of Pestilence, with Greg on drums. Greg played bass and Herb did vocals on some recordings we made with another drummer. It is a Plague Bearer album called Defiled by Sodomy. I hope to release that soon, I need a label or some money.
Final comments?
All I can say is, we are challenging to seize the throne as idols fall. I have Gabriel Byrne starting work on the cover for our next album with the Moribund Cult. If you haven't seen his work it is usually worth the price of admission.
Discography:
2003... Extermination Revelry (Moribund)
1999... To Kill Is Human (Moribund)
Current line-up:
Herb Burke... vocals
K.S. Kuciemba... guitars
Greg Reeves... bass
Dario Derna... drums
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