INTRODUCING: The New Death Cult
If you’ve been hiding under a rock the past few months, you might have missed the rise of THE NEW DEATH CULT. The Norwegian four piece have a sharp anti-war, and to a broader extent an anti-hate message, however, the work of THE NEW DEATH CULT in itself, without the hype that surrounds them, speaks volumes. With their self-titled debut barely out, they’ve been turning heads with their ludicrously catchy, bold songs. But before you’re intrigue is consumed by the mysterious masks and hidden identities, the first thing that really makes them stand out is their musical backbone. THE NEW DEATH CULT mean business; they have a message; they have a sound, a truth, and are running like all hell with it. Speaking with lead vocalist and guitarist ALPHA, we delve into just why THE NEW DEATH CULT are already a name on the map.
“We’re four very different individuals in terms of musical background, and we all share a certain broadness in taste and interest that spans across a lot of genres, but rock is what really ties us all together,” ALPHA remarks, with a sense of self-reflection. “I think our own music is a very good reflection of that overall mix of inputs. I would describe our music upfront as solid desert rock drenched in a lot of nice chords and melody with a spaced-out twist. In terms of influences, I’d say you’ll find all kinds of references – from classic rock and metal, 80’s pop, 90’s chords, 00’s guitar riffs and lyrics from the future. Listen for yourself and see what you think!”
It’s completely true that the melding pot of influences rings throughout the band’s work, but in itself, those influences don’t make THE NEW DEATH CULT a homage, but rather the newest generation of pioneers. “As a band, we’re driven by the desire and excitement of offering something different to the table, and by the constant challenge of kicking our own asses in terms of enhancing our song writing and playing,” ALPHA states. The desire to create a good hook or riff time isn’t the only facet of their motivation. The meaning inside the lyrics is just as pivotal, if not more so, than the jam that carries it. “Our inspiration is well reflected in the lyrics, which is mainly to unite people under one love and one purpose. The world right now seems to be driven towards death and destruction over insane objectives. Our message is to dismantle the machine by utilising love of self, one another and the planet on a grander scale, and I think our shared consciousness is already taking us there – we’re just here to help push it in our own way.”
There’s a push with the public consciousness to be more mindful of ourselves and our world, and there’s no better band to carry the mantle in contemporary issues than THE NEW DEATH CULT. For those looking at the band’s more metaphorical standpoints, THE NEW DEATH CULT also can’t help but gain attention from the fact their identities are hidden, using their masked identities as vessels for their message, a united symbol that means more than just a cool aesthetic. “The first and foremost reason why we keep the masks is that your brain would melt if you saw our real faces,” ALPHA tells us, in ever illusive terms. “I’m not going to go too much into details at this point, but it’s a process which will change us in time, but for now the masks represent everything we stand for in terms of bringing focus to what unites human beings to one another, and humanoid aliens to humans as well. I think the skull represents that sameness in a very cool way, because no matter your skin colour, religious views, sexual orientation or whatever else, we’re all skulls and bones beneath the skin. We’re essentially all the same.”
If you’ve heard the record, which released early September, you’ll be well versed in the catchy hooks, unusual use of psychedelic rock in the wash of grunge, alt rock that takes a big inspiration from early FOO FIGHTERS, SOUNDGARDEN and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE. The melodies are instant hits, so much so it’s easy to miss the true ingenuity of the music itself. What’s more, the band have really taken the time to hone in on what they want the listener to experience in terms of tone. “We recorded the album in Roffsound in Oslo, which is a beautiful little studio situated in the middle of a huge workshop area in Northern Oslo,” ALPHA explains, “We did everything as old-school as we could together with producer Stamos Koliousis, using everything from vintage Vistalite drums, Orange bass amps and a Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ amp with Gibson ES-335 and Fender Telecaster guitars paired with a bunch of different pedals that we had lying around.”
In terms of their song writing, you can’t deny that all the positive feeling behind the music itself, the heart of the message is brought through the writing. “The writing process starts with a solid song structure,” ALPHA illuminates, “then we bring everything else to the table from there on. We might change some small structural things here and there but for the most part it’s adding detail and depth which is where everyone really contributes with their own unique musical characteristics that make up the sound of this band.”
The feeling of THE NEW DEATH CULT that took so much thought to create in the studio carries into their live performances, with already a big interest arising in their shows. It’s clear that that contact is pretty rewarding for ALPHA and the rest of the group. “We’re on stage to connect with the audience in every way possible. When we get a spontaneous positive reaction to a song, a lead or whatever, or people sing along to the chorus, that’s where we feel the most rewarded. We’ve also started seeing people dressed in skull masks in the audience, which we think is really cool! What better way to join the cult?”
It’s the start of a very bright future for THE NEW DEATH CULT, whose mission for peace and harmony through the medium of epic music and cosmic unity has just begun. “We’re on a roll right now with our debut […] and have a few shows booked for the fall, but we’re expecting to hit lot more venues in Europe in 2020 and hopefully a lot of cool festivals in the summer. We’ve also started writing for our next album, and people coming to our shows can definitely expect some new material, perhaps even something that’ll be played for the first time ever! We’re very excited.”
The New Death Cult is out now via Indie Recordings.
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