1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Richard: We recently put out a new full length album, "Venomassacre", which we are extremely proud of and has been getting a lot of positive feedback! We also inked a deal with the awesome people at Lost Apparations Records to re-release Venomassacre, along with a remastered version of our 2005 EP " Ghoststorm Eulogy" included as bonus tracks.Things are killer!
2.Recently you have put out a full length album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction of the new recording and also how does it differ from the demo's and ep's you have released in the past? Erik: We basically write what comes naturally, whether we feel inspired by black or death metal at the time. Our inspirations range from both so I would say we just naturally progress and the mixture of both genres comes out in different parts of our songs.. We write fast music but like to keep the feeling within our songs. Our new album came out a lot heavier than our debut, but it was not intentional.
3.This album is the first release that has came out in 7 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during those years?
Richard: People got jobs, people got married, people had kids..Just life happening basically. But we never stopped working on Warthrone. It just took a long time, and the proper planets elining, to actually put it out. Many of the songs on the new album were actually written years ago,,
4.All of the band members at one time where a part of Witch-Hunt, do you see the band as a continuation of your past band?
Richard: Somewhat. Erik and i have been friends since we were 12 years old..so actually Warthrone is a continuation of being kids, discovering underground extreme music together, spending all day everyday listening to it and daydreaming of "I wish we could put out an album like this.." Witch-Hunt was a very cool chapter in all our lives, but for myself and Erik, Warthrone is much more from the heart, as far as the kind of music we want to play and hear.
Erik: I feel Warthrone's a new direction from both Witch-hunt and Dying Fetus. I wrote a lot of Witch-hunt's (later day) riffs, so maybe there are some comparisons. But for the most part, Warthrone is much more brutal, faster and crushing and progressed than anything we did with Witch-hunt. We were young then in the Witch-hunt days so at this point in our lives we are more pissed off than ever and I think it shows in the aggression of Warthrone.
5.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects on the new album?
Richard: Well with our first EP "Ghoststorm.." the lyrics were pretty much all about "the supernatural" in a way...I dont want to say it was a "concept album", but pretty much every song followed that theme..it was always just something we were fascinated by..but the new full length, well, lyrically its all over the place...some things are simply expressing,,certain "aggressive feelings" I was having at the time...its open to interpretation..but none of it is nice.
6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Warthrone'?
Erik: Honestly, I've had the name for a while and finally got to unleash the name with this project in 2004. The video games came after us by the way..haha.. The meaning behind it is not much other than it sounded like a good name when we thought of it.
7.The band was originally from Virginia but relocated to Florida, what was the decision behind the move?
Richard: We live in both Virginia and Florida lol. Hard to explain that.. We never really relocated, but we do the music in VA then the vocals in FL.. we live both places I guess.
8.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Erik: When I was in Dying Fetus the best show was in Wacken and Graspop about 2002. Warthrone has not played live yet, since we live in different states.. but maybe one day.
9.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
Not as of right now, we want to start writing the next album then see about establishing a lineup to play live one day.
10.The new album came out on Ghost Storm Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
Erik: It's basically a band label we did ourselves to release the debut ep. We have just inked a licensing deal with Lost Apparitions Records (Luray Virginia) that will release Venomassacre on an official label and it should be out around July 2014. It will include a remastered version of our debut ep Ghoststorm Eulogy.
11.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
Richard: The feedback has been amazing! Much better than we ever hoped! We've gotten positive feedback from literally all over the world, its been awesome!
12.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Richard: we already have some ideas..I have tons of lyrics written, and we've got some riff and song ideas already..the answer is...staying true to who we are, but without repeating ourselves.
13.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
As far as influence, we started with old school thrash and death metal, especially early 90's Florida death metal, grindcore, and european death...then after that, it encompasses all forms of extreme underground metal. Lots of Black Metal obviously,These days im digging on Vader, Krake (Biest of Krake does guest vocals on the new album), Keep Of Kalliseen, Fleshgod Apocolypse, and also always listening to the old school stuff..also really liked the new Carcass album alot..those guys were huge influence on us.
Erik: My favorites right now are Fleshgod Apocalypse and Putrid Pile. We listen to everything from all types of black metal to most brutal death. But, I think old school death metal still and will always have a special place in our hearts, and will always be a main source of our inspirations. However, I can listen to Katatonia or King Diamond, then listen to Dark Funeral or Pathology, all of which inspire us in our songwriting one way or another.
14.How would you describe your views on occultism?
Erik: We don't really care about any of it.
15.What are some of your non musical interests?
Richie:My family. And beer. Beer is good.
Erik: Kristel and I and my family run a haunted attraction in VA called Wicked Woods and I pretty much only watch horror movies. I do also like beer a little much. And racing mustangs or riding rickety carnival rides at the fair that's fun too haha.
16.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
The support for Warthrone has been incredible! Thank you so much! also our label LostApparations.com, go check them out, they have lots of killer bands they are supporting. Keep it alive!!
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