1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Myself and Mike were in a band called skeletondealer which put out an ep on sliptrick records. Rob, the guitar player, also plays in From Autumn to Ashes so when they got back together the band folded. I had a bunch of songs written and started recording them in May of 2015. I showed the basic tracks to Mike and he was into it. Then we got Paulie, Mike's brother to play drums and Brian, Mike's brother-in-law to play bass. The rest is history.
2.How would you describe your musical sound? Basically the goal I had was to create a band that incorporated all aspects of stoner/doom/sludge metal without conforming to a certain rigid format. I had this idea of creating a band that was like all the bands you would see at "Desert Fest" rolled into one band. I didn't want to be a band that plays rehashed, fuzzed-out Sabbath riffs over and over.I wanted there to be fast punk rock parts as well as very dissonant, noisy, trippy, melodic parts. I want there to be dynamics. We are all come from the local hardcore scene here in Long Island so that definitely a part of our sound although that's unintentional. I wanted it to be a bit more raw and unrefined while still writing well-crafted, catchy songs. We keep the vocals brutal and the riffs straight forward. It's "slow metal" but it's not boring. We don't just plod along. We're not a gimmick. I see a lot of bands today in this sub genre that just buy thousands of dollars worth of vintage amps, tuned down as low as possible, play at 45 BPM, has some dude bark his head off and put everyone to sleep. I'm not trying to do that. I'm trying to write great songs. I'm trying to do something a little left of center. Each song on the ep has its own vibe and are different. No matter how heavy of a band you are you need to know how to write a good song. That's something I feel is missing in a lot of this music.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music? Lyrically we have been trying to create a way for people to open their minds a bit into how the world around them shapes their perspective. Whether it be from an intellectual standpoint or from a flesh driven standpoint. We believe that there is more to any given situation than just what is taken at face value. Reasons and behavioral patterns are rarely taken into account and because it’s easier to just dismiss things as the will of any given deity or the way the world works causes people to rely on instinctual non-accountability. Whether it be the killings in names of beliefs or land or money or just the day to day self-destruction of our own husks. Pondering mortality and the concept of good and evil and how it makes people do horrifying things to each other.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'False Gods'? the name represents a counter to the concept of a being that sees itself as above any specific other being and the people who buy into that tradition. The practice of worship is archaic and foolish and the fact that it has transcended from imaginary sky people to the worship of anything from celebrities and false prophets to money and traditions is disheartening. It seems as if this plane of existence is riddled with these “false gods”
5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance? We're a brand new band. Our first show was in December. All the gigs have been well-received and a lot of fun. Lots of volume and beer. Our stage performance would be best described as four dead trees, playing extremely loud while drinking tap lagers and ales.
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future? We're playing gigs in the NY area. We head down to Maryland April 23rd. We are currently in the process of booking some small runs. No longer than two or three days.
7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest? We are currently looking, yes.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge, doom metal and hardcore? Very positive. People seem to dig it.
9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future? I don't know. That's a great question. We plan on recording another ep at the end of this year. We've already started writing new songs and almost have about three finished. I think the one difference will be more of that Godflesh influence and less of the Sabbath-y stuff. I want to experiment more with noise and ugly, diminished chords but I also want to explore more melody too. Way less "stoney" and more "sludge-y" I would say. A darker, heavier, more brutal direction I would say.
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? Our influences range from all the usual suspects :Black Sabbath, Black Flag, St Vitus, Crowbar, C.O.C., eyehategod, Godflesh, Neurosis, SWANS, bloodlet, even some yuppicide. The list goes on and on. I can only speak for myself but I don't really listen to a lot of heavy music when I'm home. I'm going through a big Sinatra phase at the moment. Also listening to a lot of Jobim. That stuff is just timeless.
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? Our five-song ep "Wasteland" will be released digitally April 22nd. Be on the lookout. Hope you guys dig it. thanks for the interview.
Myself and Mike were in a band called skeletondealer which put out an ep on sliptrick records. Rob, the guitar player, also plays in From Autumn to Ashes so when they got back together the band folded. I had a bunch of songs written and started recording them in May of 2015. I showed the basic tracks to Mike and he was into it. Then we got Paulie, Mike's brother to play drums and Brian, Mike's brother-in-law to play bass. The rest is history.
2.How would you describe your musical sound? Basically the goal I had was to create a band that incorporated all aspects of stoner/doom/sludge metal without conforming to a certain rigid format. I had this idea of creating a band that was like all the bands you would see at "Desert Fest" rolled into one band. I didn't want to be a band that plays rehashed, fuzzed-out Sabbath riffs over and over.I wanted there to be fast punk rock parts as well as very dissonant, noisy, trippy, melodic parts. I want there to be dynamics. We are all come from the local hardcore scene here in Long Island so that definitely a part of our sound although that's unintentional. I wanted it to be a bit more raw and unrefined while still writing well-crafted, catchy songs. We keep the vocals brutal and the riffs straight forward. It's "slow metal" but it's not boring. We don't just plod along. We're not a gimmick. I see a lot of bands today in this sub genre that just buy thousands of dollars worth of vintage amps, tuned down as low as possible, play at 45 BPM, has some dude bark his head off and put everyone to sleep. I'm not trying to do that. I'm trying to write great songs. I'm trying to do something a little left of center. Each song on the ep has its own vibe and are different. No matter how heavy of a band you are you need to know how to write a good song. That's something I feel is missing in a lot of this music.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music? Lyrically we have been trying to create a way for people to open their minds a bit into how the world around them shapes their perspective. Whether it be from an intellectual standpoint or from a flesh driven standpoint. We believe that there is more to any given situation than just what is taken at face value. Reasons and behavioral patterns are rarely taken into account and because it’s easier to just dismiss things as the will of any given deity or the way the world works causes people to rely on instinctual non-accountability. Whether it be the killings in names of beliefs or land or money or just the day to day self-destruction of our own husks. Pondering mortality and the concept of good and evil and how it makes people do horrifying things to each other.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'False Gods'? the name represents a counter to the concept of a being that sees itself as above any specific other being and the people who buy into that tradition. The practice of worship is archaic and foolish and the fact that it has transcended from imaginary sky people to the worship of anything from celebrities and false prophets to money and traditions is disheartening. It seems as if this plane of existence is riddled with these “false gods”
5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance? We're a brand new band. Our first show was in December. All the gigs have been well-received and a lot of fun. Lots of volume and beer. Our stage performance would be best described as four dead trees, playing extremely loud while drinking tap lagers and ales.
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future? We're playing gigs in the NY area. We head down to Maryland April 23rd. We are currently in the process of booking some small runs. No longer than two or three days.
7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest? We are currently looking, yes.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge, doom metal and hardcore? Very positive. People seem to dig it.
9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future? I don't know. That's a great question. We plan on recording another ep at the end of this year. We've already started writing new songs and almost have about three finished. I think the one difference will be more of that Godflesh influence and less of the Sabbath-y stuff. I want to experiment more with noise and ugly, diminished chords but I also want to explore more melody too. Way less "stoney" and more "sludge-y" I would say. A darker, heavier, more brutal direction I would say.
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? Our influences range from all the usual suspects :Black Sabbath, Black Flag, St Vitus, Crowbar, C.O.C., eyehategod, Godflesh, Neurosis, SWANS, bloodlet, even some yuppicide. The list goes on and on. I can only speak for myself but I don't really listen to a lot of heavy music when I'm home. I'm going through a big Sinatra phase at the moment. Also listening to a lot of Jobim. That stuff is just timeless.
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? Our five-song ep "Wasteland" will be released digitally April 22nd. Be on the lookout. Hope you guys dig it. thanks for the interview.
