Metal outfit Death Of An Era have released their debut album "Black Bagged", via Artery Recordings/Razor and Tie Records. Frontman vocalist Daniel Simpson discusses that album and plans these guys have in-store for themselves and us in the coming future.
1. Can you give those of us who aren't familiar with Death of an Era a brief history of the band and can you please describe your sound for those who have yet to hear your music?
Daniel: We're just a group of guys making music, doing what we love. We built our fan base over the years with smaller release and regional shows and just built from there. We signed in early 2013 with Artery Recordings and Razor & Tie. We put out an EP called "The Great Commonwealth" and have been touring off it ever since. Our first full length dropped the 23rd of June. Without getting too muddled with sub genres and whatnot, I'd say we're a heavy band with a good amount of technicality, accompanied by choruses and breakdowns.
2. Could you describe your song writing process? What comes first – the music or the lyrics?
Daniel: The music always comes first. I usually keep concepts in mind before writing, but I prefer to write lyrics to the music, rather than force them where they don't fit.
3. Why did you think and want "Big Brother" and "The Global Movement" as your two singles? Will you also be releasing videos to accompany these or will other songs be chosen?
Daniel: Both tracks had the variety of musical and lyrical content that we wanted people to hear first. We did our best to represent the album with those songs. You'll just have to wait and see about those videos!
4. What was the recording process like this time around? Was there anything different that happened or was it the same old studio thing?
Daniel: This was our first time to be able to stay in a studio and write for a month straight. Working every day really kept things moving and didn't give ideas the chance to die out.5. Can you tell us how this album differs from the previous EPs? What can we expect and what is the message behind it?
Daniel: The full length is more or less an expansion of the last EP. It contains a lot of the same concepts, both lyrically and instrumentally. We were able to take certain parts and really run with them through the 12 tracks. This release is heavily political but also has other themes to keep things from getting monotonous.
6. What does “Black Bagged” mean to you all?
Daniel: For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, it refers to the clandestine actions of "powers that be" when throwing sacks over the heads of rebellious or outspoken citizens and throwing them in the back of a van never to be heard from again.
7. How does the album art relate to the music on the album?
Daniel: Its conceptual in nature and tied to the title. In the foreground, there's hooded figure that represents the "Black Bagged' part of things, while there are several screens displaying acts of terrorism by the American government.
8. “Black Bagged” the title portray a political appeal, can you expand on the title's representation?
Daniel: Sure just refer to the previous answer in question 7.
9. Kevin Lankford produced this album what was it about him that you saw would fit Death of an Era's style?
Daniel: He was the same producer we worked with on the last release and it just felt like a natural fit.
10. Do you think there is an element of the band’s sound that you would like to push out further on the next batch of songs? With so much going on in your sound, obviously there are elements that might get further explored?Daniel: As we just released a full length album, a lot could change in how we want to the next album to sound before we sit down and record it. We'll just figure it out along the way.
11. What is in the future for Death of an Era? Any tours or shows on the horizon?
Daniel: Management always has things in the work, but nothing we can say just yet.
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