1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
The band started as a studio project. Shane (the bass player) had been talking with Andrew (guitar) about doing a stoner rock record. Everyone in the band has been playing together on and off for the last 10 years or so. I don't think that Shane would possibly agree to do any record without Napz so he was a natural choice. Pat (guitar) had moved but kept in touch and he wanted to start paying again. When Andrew told me what was happening I was stoked and made it be known that I (Zach) wanted to sing. So we got together and hammered out three songs in the first rehearsal. We knew right away that this would not just be a studio band and that we really needed to play these songs live.
2.How would you describe your musical sound?
Our goal in in shaping our sound and recording this record was to keep it simple and organic and not overcomplicate things. We all of course love Sabbath and musically we try and do things that fit the feel of the first two Sabbath records (especially the first) just somewhat updated. Shane took that approach when engineering and mixing the record too for the most part. So we keep the songs pretty straightforward and just go by how they feel to us. We just try to make them rock as hard as possible while still maintaining a groove. (zach, vocals said that)
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
We try to keep a general theme of death, surrounded by pagan imagery. Everything generally revolves around the Reeper and his bidding, the nine gates of hell and what is sows, the graves he leaves in his wake and the rituals that conjure him from his slumber, Also leather, weed, boozing and gambling. We also sometimes start with a song title first and then build lyrics around that. (zach)
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'High Reeper'?
One of my friends who is a career criminal and is totally insane has a license plate that says "Reeper" because when he went to the DMV he wanted to get "reaper" but it was already taken. Although I am not a fan alternate spellings, I always liked the way that it looked. Kind of like when you see Led Zeppelin written, it just looks good. I work as a tattooist and have some old flash from the '70s and one of the pics is of a reaper smoking an opium pipe. I thought that High Reeper just sounded good together. When we were all tossing around names for the band everyone thought that it was appropriate. (shane)
5.What are some of the best shows that band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
So far every show we've played has been awesome. Our debut was really insane and we had a great gig in Brooklyn at Bar Matchless. Very fun show. What you'll get live is a lot of screaming, a lot of volume, a lot of head banging and a lot of drinking. Stage left is usually lit. (andrew
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
We are booking shows for the fall right now and hope to tour in the new year.
7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
We are unsigned and are looking for a label to press a vinyl LP for us.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of stoner rock and doom metal?
So far the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
I think that by writing and recording our record that we've been able to figure out what our sound is right now and we hope to roll with it for a while. We are not making any conscious decisions to sound one way or another, we would just like to continue with what we're doing. (Pat guitar).
10.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?
While we were making the record we were listening to a ton of early Black Sabbath and Motörhead because that's what we bonded over. The Datsuns and Sleep were on rotation as well as Humble Pie and The Faces just to hear Steve Marriott wail. Also have to give a nod to some bands from our area like Heavy Temple and Ruby The Hatchet who are really pushing the envelope.
11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Drinking
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Yeah we just want to say that we've all been playing music for as long as we can remember and we do it because its what we are. We're all really excited about this band and really enjoy playing this music live.
The band started as a studio project. Shane (the bass player) had been talking with Andrew (guitar) about doing a stoner rock record. Everyone in the band has been playing together on and off for the last 10 years or so. I don't think that Shane would possibly agree to do any record without Napz so he was a natural choice. Pat (guitar) had moved but kept in touch and he wanted to start paying again. When Andrew told me what was happening I was stoked and made it be known that I (Zach) wanted to sing. So we got together and hammered out three songs in the first rehearsal. We knew right away that this would not just be a studio band and that we really needed to play these songs live.
2.How would you describe your musical sound?
Our goal in in shaping our sound and recording this record was to keep it simple and organic and not overcomplicate things. We all of course love Sabbath and musically we try and do things that fit the feel of the first two Sabbath records (especially the first) just somewhat updated. Shane took that approach when engineering and mixing the record too for the most part. So we keep the songs pretty straightforward and just go by how they feel to us. We just try to make them rock as hard as possible while still maintaining a groove. (zach, vocals said that)
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
We try to keep a general theme of death, surrounded by pagan imagery. Everything generally revolves around the Reeper and his bidding, the nine gates of hell and what is sows, the graves he leaves in his wake and the rituals that conjure him from his slumber, Also leather, weed, boozing and gambling. We also sometimes start with a song title first and then build lyrics around that. (zach)
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'High Reeper'?
One of my friends who is a career criminal and is totally insane has a license plate that says "Reeper" because when he went to the DMV he wanted to get "reaper" but it was already taken. Although I am not a fan alternate spellings, I always liked the way that it looked. Kind of like when you see Led Zeppelin written, it just looks good. I work as a tattooist and have some old flash from the '70s and one of the pics is of a reaper smoking an opium pipe. I thought that High Reeper just sounded good together. When we were all tossing around names for the band everyone thought that it was appropriate. (shane)
5.What are some of the best shows that band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
So far every show we've played has been awesome. Our debut was really insane and we had a great gig in Brooklyn at Bar Matchless. Very fun show. What you'll get live is a lot of screaming, a lot of volume, a lot of head banging and a lot of drinking. Stage left is usually lit. (andrew
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
We are booking shows for the fall right now and hope to tour in the new year.
7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
We are unsigned and are looking for a label to press a vinyl LP for us.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of stoner rock and doom metal?
So far the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
I think that by writing and recording our record that we've been able to figure out what our sound is right now and we hope to roll with it for a while. We are not making any conscious decisions to sound one way or another, we would just like to continue with what we're doing. (Pat guitar).
10.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?
While we were making the record we were listening to a ton of early Black Sabbath and Motörhead because that's what we bonded over. The Datsuns and Sleep were on rotation as well as Humble Pie and The Faces just to hear Steve Marriott wail. Also have to give a nod to some bands from our area like Heavy Temple and Ruby The Hatchet who are really pushing the envelope.
11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Drinking
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Yeah we just want to say that we've all been playing music for as long as we can remember and we do it because its what we are. We're all really excited about this band and really enjoy playing this music live.
