EMQ’s With Mindrazer

EMQ’s With Mindrazer

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Melodic Thrash Metal band, Mindrazer. Huge thanks to their Lead Vocalist/ Rhythm Guitarist, Nick DeFuria, for taking part. 

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

I am Nick DeFuria, I perform lead vocals and second guitar. Mindrazer came together in 2017 after a little impromptu jam session between Brian, Vin and myself. Brian and I had played in a band together before but that split up when we went off to college. Brian met Vin in college. After that little jam, we knew we wanted to play together again and that kind of evolved into what we are today. We initially had some silly ideas for the project. I think Brian wanted to have Symphonic elements to the music back in the beginning. We worked out the kinks along the way, added a lead guitar player and just kept grinding. It’s a pretty simple story.  

How did you come up with your band name?

Well, the name is inspired by the monster that you see on our album art. His name is Khowyrd and he is a Mindrazer. He is an aberrant being from another dimension that feeds on knowledge extracted from brain matter. Some IPs mistakenly refer to this creature as a Mindflayer but they are wrong. While Mindflayer does have a certain ring to it and it rolls off the tongue better, Mindrazer is the proper term. We know, Khowyrd was very clear to correct us when we became his servants. 

What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?

We are from New Jersey in the USA. Jersey is kind of a weird anomaly in that it is wedged between the New York megalopolis and Philadelphia. So we get a ton of spill over from those scenes. It makes for a very eclectic scene with some bands feeling more like NYC bands while others feel more like Philly bands. It is hard to articulate the difference, but it is definitely there. The scene itself is pretty big on Thrash, which is particularly advantageous for us. Thrash was really the only option for us practically, but we definitely considered branching in either a more Power Metal-oriented or Black Metal-oriented direction in the early days. Unfortunately, we don’t see much of those genres out this way. It worked out for us in the end though because we settled on Thrash as a style before we really dug into the scene. 

What is your latest release?

We just released our debut full length “A Thing of Nightmares”. The lead single of the record was ‘Entombed In Time’ which was accompanied by a music video. The video shows the viewer exactly what Khowyrd is capable of doing to unsuspecting victims. We did it in a cheesy 80’s B horror style. We love that kind of film. 

Who have been your greatest influences?

Well, we have kind of a big five influences. Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Dissection, Blind Guardian and Warbringer. Maiden is definitely the biggest. We love the way they construct songs and paint sonic pictures. They just have a way of giving you that certain feeling. Megadeth is just so chaotic, and they bring this wild edge without sacrificing tightness. Megadeth knew how to explore new sonic spaces and we love following them down the rabbit holes they dug. Dissection were masters of melody and counterpoint. I literally learned theory to understand Dissection. They build their melodic structures like a baroque piece instead of a metal song and it unlocks a whole new world of heaviness. Blind Guardian taught us that it is ok to embrace our inner nerd but also, they taught us how to push the boundaries of heaviness that come from following the path laid by Iron Maiden. They played harder and faster but never relented with the melody. Lastly, Warbringer taught us how to make what we do relevant in the 2020’s. Thrash evolved since the 80’s. You need to go way harder and take more cues from the extreme side of the genre. We also learned not to be afraid to crossover a little bit. The pit has to open. Warbringer helped us get the pits open consistently. 

What first got you into music?

I have loved music for as long as I can remember. I remember being just old enough to form lasting memories and listening to my mom’s old Bon Jovi CD’s. Shortly thereafter my father made me a CD for Halloween and I vividly remember every song on there and it changed my life. It had ‘Bark at the Moon’ by Ozzy, ‘Welcome to My Nightmare’ by Alice Cooper, ‘Iron Man’ by Sabbath, ‘Godzilla’ by Blue Öyster Cult, ‘Frankenstein’ by Edgar Winter. Sometime around then I inexplicably got really into Disturbed. I couldn’t have been older than 7 at the time. I picked up guitar for the first time around 2008-ish when I heard AC/DC for the first time. I saw a video of Angus Young doing his spasm routine on the floor with his beat-to-hell vintage Gibson SG. I knew that I had to have one of those and do the same thing. 

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

I personally would kill for an opportunity to do a song with Bruce Dickinson. If it wasn’t already obvious from listening to my voice in our songs, he is my hero as a singer. I spent a lot of time learning how to use the same techniques as him. I will never be a carbon copy of him or even close just due to the nature of our respective voices but learning his techniques was critical to Mindrazer’s success thus far. So, I would love to hear him lend his voice to the songs that he inspired. 

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Wacken Open Air of course. What metalhead doesn’t dream about being on the main stage at the biggest metal festival in the world? I would do some pretty wild things to have the experience of playing our songs to the sea of sweaty, mud-covered, inebriated barbarians from around the world alongside the biggest names in the genre. Frankly, I would go to great lengths just to go to that concert as a fan.  

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I don’t know if you’d call this a gift or not, but we got an anonymous DM in our Insta once about two years ago now. It was an obvious fake account. The name was just a few letters strung together and numbers. They sent us a crudely doctored photo of our bassist Vin. The image was a headshot of Vin taken directly from his Facebook page from a few years prior and they had added two identical images of our drummer Brian’s face and put them over Vin’s eyes angled slightly upwards. It was like alien eyes, but they weren’t eyes, they were Brian. The account was deleted after that. We posted it on our Instagram if you scroll back far enough, you will find it. 

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Thanks for your continuing support. Thanks for coming out to all of the shows. Thanks for streaming the album so much, especially since most of the songs are pretty close in streaming numbers. It’s awesome to see that people are digging this record from top to bottom. We have more music on the way, and we are of the opinion that the best is yet to come. 

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Randy Rhoads would be the obvious choice for me. He was a literal prodigy, the greatest of all time, taken from this world too soon due to the foolishness of another. I cannot think of someone more deserving. It is almost maddening to contemplate the amazing music this world was deprived of due to his loss. 

I know you only said one, but I also feel the need to mention my generation’s fallen star, Riley Gale. While he was no Randy Rhoads by any stretch, Power Trip was a once-in-a-lifetime band that brought a languishing genre, our genre, back from the brink. Fentanyl is a horrible thing, man… 

Rest in Power Randy and Riley. 

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

I love getting on stage in front of a wild crowd. There is just this cathartic feeling. It is like that feeling you get when you jump in the mosh pit at your favourite band’s gig except you are the king of the pit. It all revolves around you. I love commanding the pit from the stage. I love that people are willing to throw their whole bodies into the music we create. It is a cathartic, powerful feeling. It’s like we are leading the charge into battle with sword and board. You’d be really hard-pressed to top that feeling. 

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

At least in the US, live music is becoming a very niche thing on the local and underground levels. To my understanding, the Boomers and Gen X used to go to clubs to see bands all the time, but people in our generation and younger seem to not be into that anymore unless they are in the niche. They either go to clubs with a DJ or do not go out at all. I think that has a lot to do with the type of music people listen to these days, most of it is not based around instruments. They are producer based typically. Popular music is a result of the industry pushing it, it’s not really a grassroots thing like people would like you to believe. That is even true at the local level. I would love to see instrument-focused music pushed by the industry more because I am so sick of DJ music. I want to see more live music. 

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

This is definitely not my number one favourite but it has been one of my most listened-to albums from top to bottom for at least a year, so I am gonna share it here. “Hunted by Khemmis” is probably the best thing to come out of the Doom Metal genre since Black Sabbath’s “Heaven and Hell”. It is a modern-day classic by a true group of rising stars. All killer, no filler from top to bottom. I couldn’t recommend this record more highly, especially the title track. Give it a spin. 

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

I am a big fan of streaming. I get that streaming royalties are literally pennies, but it just makes so much music accessible to everyone. There is infinite opportunity for the discovery of new bands and albums that you would have never discovered otherwise. I can literally go on Spotify and discover 20 new bands right now and I wouldn’t have to move from my seat or spend my time doing anything other than listening. That is great for listeners looking to expand their horizons but also for smaller artists looking for their chance to be heard. CD’s, vinyl and tapes all cost money. They require going to a place to get them or waiting for them to be delivered. People are only going to spend their time and money on the stuff that they know already for the most part. That is why streaming is so great. 

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Well, we are all pretty hyped about the show we just did with Venom Inc. and Satan. That show was in a packed venue with a stacked bill of classic bands. The crowd was really solid at that show, even some big names turned out to see the show. That was very cool. Unless you were in the pit, you could hardly move in that venue all night. That is what you love to see at a show.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I would probably be way more invested in activism. I am a very passionate guy and I feel very strongly about quite a few causes, civil liberties, the maximization of freedom etc. I would probably put a lot more effort into those pursuits. I would probably also run for local public office.  

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Once again, Bruce Dickinson, not because of his singing but because he is a polymath who could speak on literally any topic at the very least at a collegiate level. John Carpenter, the director of Halloween, The Thing, and others because he is a humble visionary in multiple fields. Dr. Ron Paul, just because he is a badass. Kathleen Kennedy in hopes that John Carpenter and Ron Paul can smack some sense into her regarding the direction of Star Wars. Lastly, I would invite Danny DeVito because he’s a national treasure and the greatest comedic mind to come out of New Jersey. 

What’s next for the band?

Well, right now we have an album to promote so that is priority number one. That means a lot more gigging. We’ve got a few shows left to round out the year and then we will be coming back hard in 2024. We are also deep in the writing process for album number 2. So, we will definitely move that to the front of minds as we go. 

What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people? 

https://www.instagram.com/mindrazerofficial/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/mindrazerofficial

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEYnPRGfoVn36-Sw44xZLFQ

Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?

I don’t know about this particular type of bread. Unfortunately, my travels in the UK have been limited to a day trip to Northern Ireland while studying abroad. That said, I can say for certain that you haven’t lived until you experienced what I imagine is the New Jersey equivalent to what you speak of. That of course would be the “Everything Bagel”. I don’t know if you have them there, but I assure you, none are superior to the ones produced here.  It is best served with bacon, egg, and cheese with “saltpepperketchup” (yes, you have to say that as one word).  

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thanks for your interest in the band and we hope you love the album.

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.