EMQ’s With Degenerator
EMQ’s With Degenerator
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Grunge/ Stoner Rock/ Doom Metal band, Degenerator. Huge thanks to their Vocalist/ Guitarist, Barrett Klesko, 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’m Barrett Klesko, and I bring life to the guitar and vocals for Degenerator. We’re a collaborative entity from Edmonton who decided to channel our experiences into music that speaks about the world and our own transformations.
How did you come up with your band name?
We wanted a name that reflects our interest in the cycles of change in society and within ourselves, and Degenerator just clicked.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We’re from Alberta, Canada. The scene here is full of amazing bands, but it’s tough for venues to keep the lights on, except for a few that have become our homes away from home. Great underground scene, poor commercial scene.
What is your latest release? () A. We’ve just dropped The Abyssal Throne, our debut full length. It’s deep, dark, and pulls a lot of influence from 90s grunge and goth metal, as well as. modern doom and stoner rock.
Who have been your greatest influences?
We’ve been shaped by a mix of rock legends and metal icons, but also by the world around us and the stories we hear. There is a lot of grunge and stoner rock in this band, think Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Queens of the Stone Age, etc.
What first got you into music?
I’ve always been drawn to the way music can tell a story and express emotions that words alone can’t. I hear music continuously in my head, and getting it out into the world us the only way to quiet it.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Collaborating with someone like Trent Reznor would be incredible—he’s a master at blending intensity with depth.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Wacken Open Air is the dream—there’s nothing like it for a metal band.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
A lot of hand-drawn art with… explicit imagery. I won’t get into details, but you can imagine.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Stay true to yourselves, and thanks for being on this journey with us.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
I’ve always heard Kurt Cobain could “really play guitar”. I love his music, but I don’t hear that in it, I’d love to play with him in person to find out.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I love the connection with fans, and the energy of live shows. I’m not a fan of the business side of things—it can be draining, especially the social media aspect.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I’d make it easier for new talent to get noticed and breakthrough, I’d kill social media, I’d revalue music as an artform and a career.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“The Downward Spiral” by Nine Inch Nails—it’s a classic.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
There’s something special about vinyl. It’s not just music; it’s an experience.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
I played a show once in Gueahati India to the biggest crowd I’ve ever performed in front of (about 25,000 people), there was a point in the set where the crowd began singing along with our music. It was a magical experience and a career high point.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I’d probably be exploring the world, capturing its stories through film or photography.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
I’d invite a mix of artists and thinkers who challenge the status quo – people who make you see the world differently. Let’s go with David Bowie, Eckhart Tolle, Carl Jung, Edgar Allen Poe, and Radhanath Swami.
What’s next for the band?
The seeds are starting to sprout on some new ideas for the follow-up to this album, but I want to give this one time to breathe and time for fans to absorb it before announcing anything new.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
We don’t engage with social media with this band, so you could find us at https://degeneratormusic.bandcamp.com or on my primary band All Else Fails’ YouTube page https://YouTube.com/allelsefailscanada
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?
That’s a Roll no?
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Just a huge thanks to everyone who supports us. You’re the reason we do this. Stay tuned for more noise from Degenerator!
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.
