EMQ’s With Sorrow Enthroned
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA 1 man Extreme/ Brutal Death Metal project, Sorrow Enthroned. Huge thanks to him 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?
Sorrow Enthroned is a one man band, I play guitar and bass, program drums and do vocals. When I started the band I was very depressed and listened to a lot of black metal, so that translated into the music. People enjoyed it so I continued to practice and hone the sound.
How did you come up with your band name?
In my everyday life I came to the realization that life is inherently full of pain and misery, so instead of trying to avoid it, it’s best to embrace those events and subsequent feelings. This is echoed in the first noble truth of Buddhism, that all is suffering, and that is the path towards understanding the universe, the self, and beyond.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
I am from Connecticut, USA. I and most people I know travel to New York or Massachusetts for shows, but there’s some really good bands from Connecticut like Vomit Forth, Boundaries and Venomspreader. There’s lots of deathcore and metalcore bands, less death metal and not much slam.
What is your latest release?
I just released a single, ‘Constricted Upon the Throat of the Lamb’ at the end of January. It is from a bunch of songs I am working on for the third full-length to come out this year. It’s more technical than the rest of the songs, but I like it because it has a very sinister feel to it and it is a challenge for me to play which I enjoy.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Some of my all time favorite bands are the Black Dahlia Murder, Morbid Angel, Carnifex, Behemoth and Dark Funeral. I love brutal death metal and slam like Analepsy, Devourment, Dying Fetus. I also draw inspiration from new releases and bands that are coming out, the scene is doing well and rebounding despite the COVID nightmare.
What first got you into music?
I was fascinated by Jimmy Page and started learning their songs early on. I also learned a lot of Metallica, and once I started listening to deathcore and death metal it was like re-learning the instrument. Extreme metal has always fascinated me and I wanted to create it as much as I enjoyed listening to it.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
It would be cool to do a guest solo or vocal on a Carnal Desecration song. They seem to be a new band that no one is talking about, but their last album is so good I can’t stop listening. It’s some super evil sounding death metal from Belgium.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I remember some festival in New York featuring mostly underground brutal death metal bands but I can’t remember what it was called so I guess I can’t give a great answer there. Something heavy.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I haven’t received anything.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Enjoy life to the fullest. What we do in life really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Our solar system will perish along with all memory of humanity, so it’s up to us to create our own happiness in the short amount of time we are incarnated in this human form. Life is inherently lifeless unless we give it life, and death is just as much of a gift as life is.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Death may very well be the end of suffering. If this was not the case I’d say Trevor Strnad.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy losing myself in songwriting or playing guitar or listening to music. The music takes you to a different place, it is the realm of imagination where anything is possible, you can fantasize about sawing someone’s head off and turn that into a guitar riff. I hate writer’s block and not feeling inspired, sometimes weeks go by without coming up with a single note I am passionate about.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I wish death metal musicians got paid more, not myself necessarily but touring bands especially should be able to live comfortably. This music takes more effort and dedication than most mainstream pop and they need to stop hogging all the money so underground death metal bands can afford more weed, food, and private jets.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Nadir” by Black Tongue is one of my favorite albums, from the opening riff to the end it is one of the bleakest, angriest, and pained albums ive had the pleasure of listening to. I judge great albums by if I am able to sit through the entire 40 plus minute experience and be engaged in each song, and Nadir is a masterpiece in my opinion. I also love Ritual by The Black Dahlia Murder and Gateways to Annihilation by Morbid Angel.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?
I have always owned CDs and like supporting bands directly that way. The downside obviously is them getting scratched. The other downside is that I know streams do count for money for artists and also lots of first week streams look good, and I know there were some bands where I bought the CD and listened to that instead of streaming the album hundreds of times over the months like I would do if I hadn’t bought the CD. Maybe it all balances out I don’t know. One day I may get a record player to play vinyl, the artwork on those makes it a whole extra experience.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
I haven’t played live yet at all.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
If I could choose one other job instead I would be a high profile hitman, or something that sounds cool.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Jesus Christ, Aleister Crowley, Satan, Santa Claus and Conor Mcgregor. I wouldn’t be a part of it, I’d film it remotely from a safe distance!
What’s next for the band?
I am working on the third full-length, it is a transition into death metal. I am very proud of what it sounds like so far, it’s still a little ways off but the songs are progressing nicely. I am incorporating slam elements as well as old school death metal and some deathcore. It is the album I would make for myself to listen to, and the whole process has been much less stressful than previous albums and EP releases.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Bandcamp – https://sorrowenthroned.bandcamp.com/track/constricted-upon-the-throat-of-the-lamb
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/50tFmEsSpIvoP7fzdCRrPC?si=cZtZbEgETrahe03RLG5QDQ
Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/album/constricted-upon-the-throat-of-the-lamb/1667336825
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sorrowenthroned666/
Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGtHOZKJz6k
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sorrow_enthroned/
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?
Oh man, I’m too high, I don’t know what any of that means. I like eating muffins sometimes, they’re fluffy.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you, hail tea cakes!
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.