https://www.facebook.com/therealdevour
Sounds like: Death Metal
From: Norway
All questions answered by Schizo Fritz Apeland speaking on behalf of the band.
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound?
I naturally started with music at a young age, as my dad would always have music in the car. Specifically Rammstein, Sabaton, PAIN, Raubtier, Dimmu Borgir, Skalmold and others. His musical influence was big on me. I got the most influence early on when I heard "Sacreligious Scorn/Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse And Puritania" By Dimmu Borgir. Also a really big one for me was "Ratamahatta" by Sepultura. I didn't know any of the lyrics to any of theese songs but I sang along to them at the age of 6. I remember seeing how shocked he was that I had learned english but I didn't learn English or any other langugage. I was replicating the vocals exactly how I heard them. So from that point on I'd sing every single song that I enjoyed. Big turning point was when I heard Marilyn Manson the first time when I was 9 or 10. I found a cd in my Father`s collection, "The Golden Age Of Grotesque". I begged to hear it since the front cover intrigued me immensely and when I finally got my way I was hooked. I bought all the Manson records the first time I could use my birthday money. I would listen to each cd on repeat. The ones that I enjoyed the most were the ones that made me almost anxious. "Portrait Of An American Family", "Antichrist Superstar" and this one demo cd called the "Early Days Volume 2". Then I discovered Slipknot, Suicide Silence and Amon Amarth and that is when I started to get really into more extreme vocals. DEVOUR gets it sound from a lot of places. Drums are inspired by Tech Death Metal Bands And Deathcore. Decapitated, Benighted and also Black Metal bands like 1349 and Dimmu Borgir. The guitars are influenced by melodic Death Metal bands and Black Metal mostly. Bass is influenced by whatever our bassist Greg thinks of.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
I want people to take away whatever they take away from our music. Think for yourself, don't listen to me or anyone else. Or go against me and listen to me since I say you shouldn't.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
DEVOUR has a modernized old school sound. Drums are clean but raw brutal power. Guitars are both melodic and chainsaw guttering chugs. Bass is crunchy and round. Vocals are brutal to the core. Overall we're brutal and well thought out when it comes to our sound.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Three bands I'd like to tour with are probably not possible to tour with. But for me personally it would be Hypocrisy, Bloodbath And Illdisposed. Since they are my favourites withing the Death Metal genre. If it would be whatever genre it would be Red Harvest, Marilyn Manson And Ministry.
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
AI generated music can fuck off but it's impossible so put restrictions on it. I don't find that using a purely AI generated song to gain listeners is ok. Using AI as a helping hand is ok as long as you made it and not the AI.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Death Metal?
I think Death Metal is in a great place. We have Orbit Culture, Blood Red Throne, Ingested, Septicflesh and 100 more great Death Metal bands at the moment. Our genre is in a good shape and I believe it's growing.
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7. What’s the current local music scene like there in Norway?
The local music scene here, that would be the west coast of Norway (Haugesund) is thriving, a lot of fresh young local bands are coming up. It's a beautiful sight, though I wish they would be more serious. Band members leave and join new bands here quicker then how fast Sweden folded to Germany at an unknown time. I would love to see them be more ambitious. I think the scene here is one of the best in the world considering how small our town is. We also have a messiah here called Johnny Angelund which drives the Karmøygeddon Metal Festival. We get to see big big bands just 20 minutes away and that is a great thing also we have Slakthuset which the city owns. There young teens can practice instruments and play live for a teen audience. I started out live there myself.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
Royalties are a joke but I think streaming is great. For me music it's not about the money even though we should get more pay and fans should buy more merch and physical format to support the bands that they enjoy, which they are starting to do.
9. What’s next for Devour?
What's next is an exciting album release then gigs to promote it. It'll be amazing to finally have an album out. We have a label helping us out but more than that in the coming months.
10. Any shoutouts?
Shoutouts to Karmøygeddon Metal Festival. Shady Shades, he shot out "Unholy" music video and band photos. Also to Dark Delirium as they helped us out when they sat alone with DEVOUR with any without any experience whatsoever.
