Summon: How did the band get started?
Stefan: The band got started when Død Beverte decided kinda late that he wanted to join a band. Initially he set out looking to join one that had already started. To demonstrate his vocals he created a vocal demo as Deathcentrik. After Død spoke with a few musician friends however, it was decided that Deathcentrik should become a band.
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Stefan: We play avantgarde/industrial metal. The style has really changed over time, the early material was far more black metal and grindcore influenced than our latest material.
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Stefan: Fan response has been good! Despite the fact that within the currently existing heavy metal and industrial music communities the band has a very narrow audience, and a very limited live presence, we have gained quite a decent following, especially after only two and a half years of existence.
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Stefan: Deathcentrik comes from the word Death and the suffix centric, it means centered around death. The Death was later changed to “Deth” as our way to pay homage to Megadeth, since a friend Død had been in contact with around the time of the band’s formation had started a thrash metal band.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Stefan: Gunner “Jackie T” Harkey plays the guitar parts. Stefan “Død Beverte” Klein: vocals, electronica, and experimental instrumentation (such as percussion created with objects not typically associated with music).
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Stefan: Both members compose the music, Død writes most of the lyrics.
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Stefan: There are a number of influences for the lyrics; many of them express frustrations with groups and individuals, and they tend to be the most violent, while others are about dealing with life’s struggles. One of the tracks off our EP Dethcentrik: The Dark Chronicles, Stalking Beast of the Night, was about a monster that kills people at night, granted those lyrics were never printed, and it’s the only song we’ve created to which the lyrics were intentionally never released, and in fact they were improvised while recording, and while we aren’t the first band to not release certain lyrics (we’re aware of certain bands that have never released their lyrics to begin with), Død thought it would be fun to see who can understand the lyrics rather than give them away. One of the tracks off our latest album, Columbine Justice Spree, tells the story of Columbine from the killers’ perspective (theoretically).
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Stefan: There is nothing wrong with it! Everyone is entitled to their beliefs. Gunner is a Buddhist and Død is agnostic. Død was a Luciferian for a time, and was raised Catholic. Certain Catholics practice the occult, however they tend to be higher in authority than Død ever was in the church. Many Satanists follow Christian morals better than most Christians do!
Summon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Stefan: 5 studio releases when you include EPs, and one live split with Bassookah entitled Live 2010. Two of the EPs are available on CD: Early Demos and Singles, and the latest release Why the Innocent Die Young, which is actually our most publicized release to date!
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Stefan: The Demise of Mankind is an instrumental piece representative of how mankind’s depravity will ultimately lead to its demise. If Only was influenced by Død’s situation at his school, he was falsely accused of something he didn’t do, and this song expresses his internal desire for revenge. The Instrumentals are very ambient to give the song a dark mood, it’s meant to feel more morbid than angry, there is no guitar in this song. Rip My Heart Out was actually written far before it was recorded. It features guest vocals by Lauren McDonald, Død’s ex, and is about the heartache that comes with the end of a friendship. Columbine Justice Spree is still somewhat influenced by the incident at Død’s school, it is meant to express the Columbine high school shooting from the perspective of two abused souls who feel they are doing the right thing, rather than what the media artificially made the shooters out to be: evil murderers. Realms Yet Unknown is an electronic classical piece meant to carry the listeners out of the album
Summon: Do you have any side projects?
Stefan: Yes, there is Divine Punishment, which is an art music collaboration of many musicians from around the globe, Død has a solo project that simply goes by Død Beverte, and Gunner has considered creating solo work under his musical alias Jackie T. Død has also done guest work for Bassookah and Cold Metal Future, and has remixed Letting You by Nine Inch Nails.
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Stefan: Burzum, The Misfits, Arch Enemy, Mayhem, Cradle of Filth, Ludwig van Beethoven, Black Sabbath, Deathstars, Gorgoroth, Cannibal Corpse, Black Label Society, Rot, Static-X, Cripple Bastards, Dimmu Borgir, Megadeth, Culted, Devildriver, Emperor, Leaves’ Eyes, XXX Maniak, Children of Bodom, Bathtub Shitter, All Shall Perish, Shining, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nine Inch Nails, Sektor 304, Horde, Steve Vai, Sunn O))), Throbbing Gristle, Dir En Grey, As I Lay Dying, Behemoth, and so many more!
Summon: Which current bands?
Stefan: We have as of lately been listening a lot to Cold Metal Future, Earhead, Blank Faced Prophet, and Vital Malice. Since everything we listen to rubs off on us, they’re currently very influential to us!
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
Stefan: It sounds a lot like The Misfits with black metal vocals. There’s certainly more members live, and Død likes to cover himself in blood; he literally smelled like rotting meat at our last performance [chuckles].
Summon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Stefan: No we have not, we’d really like to someday though!
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Stefan: It’s a pretty small crowd, our reputation tends to be more infamous than famous [chuckles].
Summon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Stefan: They listen through each song then applaud. The response is more like what it is in classical and art music really.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Stefan: It exists, but it’s very underground, you have to really dig for good bands. Being in a band probably allows you to hear the best available music in the current scene really, you get to meet some really cool bands and exchange music!
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Stefan: I think it’s music stronger than here in the United States! There are more good bands, and more of them are rightfully successful than here in the United States.
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Stefan: Great question! Some of these bands that are still very underground and I wouldn’t necessarily call new, but here are some black/death metal bands (including some on the weird industrial/ambient extremes of black/death) that people certainly should look into if they haven’t already!: Culted, Plaag, Blank Faced Prophet, ScotchAllenguarde, Hecate, Faith in Ashes, Earhead, Iniquitous, Kastigation, and Crow Black Sky.
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Stefan: We already have some new material written! Currently however, focus is on Why the Guilty Die Old, where other artists are remixing our current album.
Summon: What does the future hold for the band???
Stefan: As for all the details, even we aren’t completely certain! We can say that blues and ever subtle country influence will be stronger on newer material, and we’ll certainly say right now to never rule out hearing another genre fuse into our sound!
Contact them at:
http://www.myspace.com/dethcentrik
