Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
We’ve been focusing all of our energies on a DIY release for Fiber, I mean, helping AVR Records release this beast, working our day jobs, and looking to see what the future holds for Dead Register and the road.
Recently you have released your first album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
Drums by Chad, proper crushing basslines and soaring textures by Avril, “lead” bass by me (Chvasta). It’s low, slow, extremely heavy, and atmospheric. I do the lead vocal and Avril does some smeared reverby feminine flourishes. Dan Dixon nailed our live sound on this recording. We pretty much crushed it: 2 takes for everything with some obligatory punch-ins, and what was there, was “there—that’s our sound.” Done!
3. The band has been around for 3 years but waited until recently to have released an album, can you tell us a little bit about the early years?
Out of the gate, we had a great deal of material already written and rehearsed. We just took our time to polish them up, then pick which ones we collectively liked the most for our first proper release.
4. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Mostly that of love and loss. Dealing with life. Confusion. Delusion. Unrealistic expectations. Self-loathing. Crippling depression. Etc. Humanistic stuff, I wear my heart on my sleeve.
5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Dead Register'?
Before Chad joined the fold, Avril and I would jam, and when I’d play some super low bass notes and she’d go an octave below me, it was in this horrific gut-rattling low register. It sounded and felt like a battle between two dump trucks. A fulfilling deep “I feel like I’m being dismantled by tone” register, which we jokingly referred to as the Dead Register. It stuck, and like countless other bands, we like the word “Dead.”
6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We’ve been able to support a great deal of awesome national acts, but there’s none better than Author and Punisher. It might not have been our best show, but being able to support somebody as amazing as Tristan really hit home. I also really enjoyed a private party that I threw for myself for my 40th birthday. I only booked Dead Register, got to play for all my friends in a cool art gallery (RIP DOOGALLERY), and got to eat cake.
Our stage performance has evolved nicely. Avril worked with our friend Emily Harris, a prominent metal photographer here in Atlanta, to create an extremely dark visual presentation that’s projected behind us or over us, depending on the venue. Sometimes it plays like a video, sometimes it’s just moving shapes that makes some more magic happen than “3 folks sullenly standing on stage that happen to be making (extremely slow) music.” We need to get some new live footage online to reflect the direction we’ve been going in.
7. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Nothing is on the books yet. This summer we intend to hit the road and tour the Southeast US to support the record. We need to get over the hump of this release first, then comes the booking. I’ve tuned up my tour van, and we’re ready to roll (after I replace the old tires).
8 .The new album was released on AVR Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
We set a timeline and shopped the record as hard as we could. We hit the “It’s time for a self-release” deadline, and decided to move forward. Avril’s done all of the design work, packaging, photography, merchandising, production, our music video, it only seems fitting that it would be released under her studio name. She’s a busy bee. Bzzz.
9. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of metal and goth?
I’ve been eyeballing our demographics, and we are happy to see folks from all over the world “liking” our band. Not a whole helluva lot yet, but it’s a great start! So far we’ve gotten a great deal of positive praise from all sorts of music lovers. Thank you for helping us spread the word to get some more exposure!
10. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Taking our heaviness and sonics to new levels. We have another full-length record of material written already, and we’re still writing more. Tonight even. We’re working on slow and gloomy Dead-Reg’d-out covers of Pegboy and Bolt Thrower.
11. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Avril and I have been best friends for about 19-20 years now, and we’ve seen so many awesome and diverse acts over the span of our friendship. Indie rock, math rock, metal, hardcore, electronic, punk, industrial, non-radio-pop, etc. We enjoy all types of underground/dark music. And some music that isn’t dark, but not much. Chad’s into all sorts of stuff, but he’s been crushing on contemporary art-school black metal a good bit.
Random stuff we’ve been spinning lately: Author and Punisher, Oranssi Pazuzu, Angelic Process, Godflesh, Self-Evident, Fields of the Nephilim, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Killing Joke, Ben Frost, & Bolt Thrower.
12. What are some of your non musical interests?
I drink coffee. All three of us ride bicycles. Avril and I are urban cyclists (douchey old hipsters), and Chad takes vacations just to ride. He’s committed. Mountain biking, road biking, fixed gear snobbery, etc. Chad and Avril like beer. Avril and I play couch co-op videogames. We also bitch and whine. A LOT.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Dark Roast coffee was just pushed through a steam machine into a small cup with steamed half and half. Tonight ends on a great, delicious, dark note. Thank you for your interest and support in Dead Register.
We’ve been focusing all of our energies on a DIY release for Fiber, I mean, helping AVR Records release this beast, working our day jobs, and looking to see what the future holds for Dead Register and the road.
Recently you have released your first album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
Drums by Chad, proper crushing basslines and soaring textures by Avril, “lead” bass by me (Chvasta). It’s low, slow, extremely heavy, and atmospheric. I do the lead vocal and Avril does some smeared reverby feminine flourishes. Dan Dixon nailed our live sound on this recording. We pretty much crushed it: 2 takes for everything with some obligatory punch-ins, and what was there, was “there—that’s our sound.” Done!
3. The band has been around for 3 years but waited until recently to have released an album, can you tell us a little bit about the early years?
Out of the gate, we had a great deal of material already written and rehearsed. We just took our time to polish them up, then pick which ones we collectively liked the most for our first proper release.
4. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Mostly that of love and loss. Dealing with life. Confusion. Delusion. Unrealistic expectations. Self-loathing. Crippling depression. Etc. Humanistic stuff, I wear my heart on my sleeve.
5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Dead Register'?
Before Chad joined the fold, Avril and I would jam, and when I’d play some super low bass notes and she’d go an octave below me, it was in this horrific gut-rattling low register. It sounded and felt like a battle between two dump trucks. A fulfilling deep “I feel like I’m being dismantled by tone” register, which we jokingly referred to as the Dead Register. It stuck, and like countless other bands, we like the word “Dead.”
6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We’ve been able to support a great deal of awesome national acts, but there’s none better than Author and Punisher. It might not have been our best show, but being able to support somebody as amazing as Tristan really hit home. I also really enjoyed a private party that I threw for myself for my 40th birthday. I only booked Dead Register, got to play for all my friends in a cool art gallery (RIP DOOGALLERY), and got to eat cake.
Our stage performance has evolved nicely. Avril worked with our friend Emily Harris, a prominent metal photographer here in Atlanta, to create an extremely dark visual presentation that’s projected behind us or over us, depending on the venue. Sometimes it plays like a video, sometimes it’s just moving shapes that makes some more magic happen than “3 folks sullenly standing on stage that happen to be making (extremely slow) music.” We need to get some new live footage online to reflect the direction we’ve been going in.
7. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Nothing is on the books yet. This summer we intend to hit the road and tour the Southeast US to support the record. We need to get over the hump of this release first, then comes the booking. I’ve tuned up my tour van, and we’re ready to roll (after I replace the old tires).
8 .The new album was released on AVR Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
We set a timeline and shopped the record as hard as we could. We hit the “It’s time for a self-release” deadline, and decided to move forward. Avril’s done all of the design work, packaging, photography, merchandising, production, our music video, it only seems fitting that it would be released under her studio name. She’s a busy bee. Bzzz.
9. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of metal and goth?
I’ve been eyeballing our demographics, and we are happy to see folks from all over the world “liking” our band. Not a whole helluva lot yet, but it’s a great start! So far we’ve gotten a great deal of positive praise from all sorts of music lovers. Thank you for helping us spread the word to get some more exposure!
10. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Taking our heaviness and sonics to new levels. We have another full-length record of material written already, and we’re still writing more. Tonight even. We’re working on slow and gloomy Dead-Reg’d-out covers of Pegboy and Bolt Thrower.
11. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Avril and I have been best friends for about 19-20 years now, and we’ve seen so many awesome and diverse acts over the span of our friendship. Indie rock, math rock, metal, hardcore, electronic, punk, industrial, non-radio-pop, etc. We enjoy all types of underground/dark music. And some music that isn’t dark, but not much. Chad’s into all sorts of stuff, but he’s been crushing on contemporary art-school black metal a good bit.
Random stuff we’ve been spinning lately: Author and Punisher, Oranssi Pazuzu, Angelic Process, Godflesh, Self-Evident, Fields of the Nephilim, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Killing Joke, Ben Frost, & Bolt Thrower.
12. What are some of your non musical interests?
I drink coffee. All three of us ride bicycles. Avril and I are urban cyclists (douchey old hipsters), and Chad takes vacations just to ride. He’s committed. Mountain biking, road biking, fixed gear snobbery, etc. Chad and Avril like beer. Avril and I play couch co-op videogames. We also bitch and whine. A LOT.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Dark Roast coffee was just pushed through a steam machine into a small cup with steamed half and half. Tonight ends on a great, delicious, dark note. Thank you for your interest and support in Dead Register.
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