With a sound that can be a rolling wave of groove, to hard-hitting Sludge I was intrigued from the very start. So I decided to delve deeper into their world...
If you wouldn't mind, briefly explain the history of the band including the selection of the name.
Kelly: Garrett and I used to play together in a hardcore band called, Shipwreck I Promised, which ended in 2006. When Garrett and I started looking for members for the new project, I thought it would be a good idea to come up with a name to identify us. I was listening to A Life Once Lost, Hunter and "Vulture" came on and I thought that would be a cool name. It's simple, dirty and dingy. We knew Buddy (Former singer.) and Bach from a local DIY venue called "The Spider Lounge". Gene was (and still is) playing with Pittsburgh Death Metallers, Scorched, when we were looking for a second guitar.
You guys have recently made the switch to another vocalist, what prompted this?
Bach: Honestly, I wasn't really paying attention when this happened. Had some medical problems within the family that took all of my focus, so when it was brought up, I just said I'll go along with the majority.
Kelly: Well, it was really nothing personal. All in all, he is a good dude. It just basically came down to Buddy wasn't fitting in with what we're doing and where we are going stylistically. We wanted to be taken seriously as a Doom band.
Gene: The switch was definitely prompted after the recording of the EP, after we heard what he really did over the music drew some questions.
Garrett: He has his own unique style and it wasn't really fitting in with the style and direction we wanted to take the sound of the band.
Has it been difficult? For a lot of bands break-up when this happens.
Bach: Not as much as one would think. Much of the material we had finished at that point was rewritten lyrically, and the rest of the old material is still in transition vocally, while we had started to write new songs at this point.
Gene: Honestly, not really.
Kelly: Not a difficult at all. We have a lot in common with Erb, love what he brings to the band and has zero ego.
Garrett: The transition was actually pretty seamless. Erb is on the same page as the rest of us with how the band should sound.
How has the writing gone? Have you started recording yet?
Bach: So far so good. Got a number of tunes in the works, some further along than others. We haven't been recording anything to be released; just a few takes here and there to help the writing process.
Garrett: Writing is coming along pretty good. We're beefing up a few of the old songs as well as writing new ones. Plus, Erb is also contributing to the writing since he also plays bass and guitar, so that gives us a fresh perspective.
Kelly: We plan on recording a few demos to get up on our Myspace for the time being. Once we get an arsenal of songs together that we feel are worthy, we'll record a new EP or full length. There's talk of us doing a split with our friends, Storm King, in late 2010, but everything is tentative at this point.
When I saw you guys last it was with The Devil and the Sea, you played an introduction track that floored me. Does the new stuff sound like this? Can you give me an indication of how it does sound?
Bach: I don't recall what song we played that night, although I would say our newer material shows a natural progression of how we play, how we write, and how we drink. Personally, I don't like trying to label the music: I leave that to others. If we get a riff that works for everyone, we go with it. We build the song, we iron it out. When we're done, if we're all liking the song, the groove, the beat, the whatever, we play it. Some stuff may be heavier than others, but it's all us.
Kelly: Ah, The Devil and the Sea. Love those guys! Thanks for the kind words about the song. We played a new song that was untitled (at the time). We played it as an intro/instrumental because Buddy never came up with lyrics. I think that song was also a turning point in where were heading musically and Buddy's future with the band. Honestly, I don't think Buddy ever liked it. It was probably too slow for him and couldn't dance to it, ha. Erb really took to the song and came up with lyrics. The new title for it is "Prick of Misery". We are in the process of adding a part and fine tuning it.
I've heard and seen Pittsburgh described as a culturally underdeveloped city. Would you guys agree with this?
Bach: I don't think I'd go so far as to say culturally underdeveloped. Personally, I think the town has an interesting persona, developed as a conglomeration of the ideas and actions of its inhabitants. Of course, I may be biased.
Garrett: I actually think Pittsburgh has a booming culture, especially during the summer. You can't walk two blocks without coming across a bar or club that has live music, DJ's, or some other event going on. You have the clubs in the Strip District, the bars and shopping on the South Side, there is the whole college atmosphere in Oakland, plus there are plenty of historic neighborhoods like Lawrenceville and Bloomfield for local culture. It's pretty hard to go too far in the city and not find something to do.
Gene: Depends where you look and who you ask. I'm sure other cities are the same way.
I've also heard the music scene to be a trap. Do you feel this as well?
Bach: Trap? If you are implying that bands never get signed out of Pittsburgh, I'd have to disagree.
Gene: It's a hobby if anything.
Garrett: If you're talking about local support for bands, maybe!! It's tough getting a lot of people to come out to shows on a regular basis, but local bands do get signed though. Menorrhagia, Hero Destroyed, Complete Failure, all amazing bands signed to labels that came up through the Pittsburgh scene.
Kelly: Not sure what you mean by "trap", but the Pittsburgh music scene over the last year, I've noticed a drop off in attendance at shows (ours and others). It's been increasingly difficult getting people out to shows. I'm sure the economy has something do with this as well. I mean, I can't even make it to every show. We've cut way down on playing shows not only to write, but you can't play this city frequently and expect good turnouts. Unfortunately this city is getting a reputation as a tough place to play. I've talked to touring bands that pass up here for that reason alone. Hopefully, 2010 will bring better things...
How does the recent popularity of Doom, specifically Stoner Metal and the Neurosis-thing strike you?
Garrett: I'm glad that a lot of bands are getting more exposure than they usually would with the recent popularity of the genre, but I don't ever see Doom or Stoner Rock/Metal/Sludge getting anywhere near mainstream status or anything. We're not all as accessible as a band like Clutch. I do think that the whole underground Rock scene is the purest/truest form of music out there right now. We're not out there to play Ozzfest or to sell shirts in Hot Topic. We feel right at home getting drunk on PBR in some random dive bar and sneaking into random back alleys in WV to smoke weed before the next band goes on.
Bach: If it gets people out to check out new bands and make their own decisions about them, I'm all for it.
Gene: Obviously you see more cookie cutter stoner bands...
Kelly: As long as it doesn't get out of hand like Metalcore, I'm all for it. I agree with Bach, if it gets people interested in checking out some local and indie touring bands that come to town, it can only help.
What about the rise of Pro-tools and a highly polished sound in Rock?
Garrett: I'm not gonna argue for or against using Pro-Tools or having a polished sound. If that is the way you want your band to sound, if that is the way you feel comfortable recording, then by all means, do it. I myself would much rather record "live" as a band rather than doing the whole take-by-take cut-and-paste thing, but that is my preference. I think there are bands who have recorded amazing CD's both ways, there are great crusty/dirty sounds, and some bands sound really good with the more finished/polished sound. I don't think anybody should tell you how your own band should sound, and I respect other bands opinions even if they differ from my own.
Bach: I think Pro-tools and other such recording software is incredibly useful. I'm of the opinion a band can never sound the same way live as they do recorded. The recording should be more polished to accentuate the changes and harmonies in the music, so the listener can get a feel for what the original vision for the song was. Then, they should go see them live and see what those same songs sound like in a drunken haze with more emotion than there are crying kids at a Dashboard Confessional concert.
Gene: I prefer the crustier sound.
Kelly: It has its pros and cons. I however, like Gene, prefer a crustier but heavy full sound in our particular genre of music. A perfect example is Weedeater, Sixteen Tons and Electric Wizard, Dopethrone. I also enjoy bands with a polished sound. I guess it all depends on the band and the genre.
I myself have found out about newer sub-genres (If one could call them that...) like Slam Metal and Crabcore. Any thoughts on this?
Gene: Don't like either of those styles, but yes, I have found other genres.
Bach: Just one thought: Crabcore?
Garrett: I honestly haven't heard of either genre. I might have heard of Slam Metal once, but I have no idea what it is. I try not to get too involved in the whole "sub-genre" thing, it's getting a little ridiculous with Deathcore, Metalcore, Crabcore (wtf??). Then everybody wants to argue over what band fits into what "core" because of this riff or that breakdown. The only "core" I really listen to is Grind, like Napalm Death or Brutal Truth. I'm sure someone will read this and want to debate that very statement about either of those bands being "grindcore" or which one is more grind than the other. Who cares what it's called, just enjoy the music.
Kelly: Honestly, not familiar with either. I like what I like and don't really care what genre or sub-genre it happens to belong to.
Crabcore is a style of Metalcore (I think, I don't listen to it.) that's more based upon fashion or when playing crouching down and looking like a crab. Slam Metal is a form of Death Metal made popular by Devourment that has break downs, or "slams" as they for some reason call them.
Kelly: Hasn't Robert Trujillo been playing "crabcore" for years then, eh? He can get away with it, but the angular haircut kids just look ridiculous (Thanks Google!). If anything, I think this "genre" will be short lived (Hopefully). Regardless, I'm not going to listen to music based on fashion or the stance in which they play their instrument. Regarding "slam metal", I just think of bands such as Devourment as brutal Death Metal. I don't really think the "slam metal" label is necessary, but whatever…
Bach: Music based on fashion, ugh. If the style is based on appearance, and not on the music, I hesitate to call it a genre. Can't say I've ever seen a band that performs this way, or at least one I would remember. I guess crabcore only works live, then. I mean, you can't see how they dress or play on record.
What are your main influences? Is it always Doom related?
Kelly: Not necessarily, I listen to a lot of different styles of music. Hell, one of my favorite bands of all time is Duran Duran. I started playing drums during the era of hair metal (Poison, Dokken, Ratt, Motley Crue, etc.), which explains my simplistic, but heavy style of drumming. I listen to Death Metal, Black Metal, Doom, Stoner Rock, Thrash, Industrial, Electronic IDM, Grind, Alternative. Really, whatever my mood is and sounds good to me.
Gene: No, I like old school Death Metal and psychedelic stuff too.
Garrett: Black Sabbath (Of course.), let's be honest, the entire Doom/Stoner style is just a bunch of bands re-writing Sabbath riffs one way or another. Our influences aren't always Doom bands though. I'll hear sounds in Death or Black Metal songs and I will get ideas for riffs. Whatever has a super-heavy sound that gives me that feeling in the pit of my stomach is where I get my influences.
Bach: Truth told, I rarely listen to Doom. Maybe I'll just list some stuff that should work, right? Opeth, Katatonia, Alice in Chains, Bad Religion, The Pogues, Fairport Convention, Valkyrie, Kaki King, Primus, Unter Null, Tool, AFI, Soundgarden, Pennywise, Coolio, Children of Bodom, Nile, Nightwish, The Dubliners, Refused, Yuki Kajiura, In Flames, Android Lust, Tupac, Delerium, etc. Eclectic, I know.
Do you prefer more introspective lyrics from a band or the ones that are more loose, like Orange Goblin?
Bach: I'm more a fan of lyrics telling a story, but I won't turn off a song just because the lyrics are more abstract. If they fit the feel of the song, I'm all for them.
Gene: Lyrics shmyrics. As long as they're not dumb.
Garrett: I like both styles, just so the lyrics aren't cheesy or cartoonish.
Kelly: Amen.
As a pre-teen I listened to Metallica, "Enter Sandman" and was awe struck. I felt there was an intrinsic value to the art. Do any of you have a similar experience?
Garrett: I'll never forget the first time I heard Electric Wizard, Dopethrone. When the CD hit 1:30 on the song "Funeralopolis", I actually started laughing out loud because I couldn't believe how fucking heavy that shit was. Every riff in that song felt like it was tying my intestines in a knot.
Bach: The first time I heard Bad Religion, Suffer. It's not the most musically complex album, but the lyrics were well done and the album just had this feel to it. And a few years later, I first heard Opeth, Still Life, and I was simply knocked off my feet- just sat on the couch until the disc ended. Put it back in. Rinse, repeat. I gotta put that on now.
Gene: I got high and heard Electric Wizard for the first time.
Kelly: Three out of four of us had an Electric Wizard moment, ha! The heaviest thing I ever heard at the time was "I, The Witchfinder" off of Dopethrone. I was completely blown away with the dynamics and heaviness of that song. That whole album is unbelievable.
As a woman Kelly, do you find difficulties playing the music you do? I of course infer no Sexualism myself.
Kelly: Ha, no, not really. Sometimes when we play with a touring band that I haven't played with before, they are kind of surprised when I introduce myself. With a unisex name like Kelly, I can understand when guys assume I'm a dude when emailing back and forth, especially being the drummer. I just let the playing do the talking. I see myself as just one of the guys, so I don't really think about it. We all hang out and have beers just the same.
How do you feel about bands like 13, Battle of Mice and Jarboe?
Kelly: Really like 13. It's a shame they really only put out splits, but they were killer splits with the likes of Eyehategod and Grief. I really don't see them as a "girl" band. I just thought of them as 13 and they kill. Never really heard Battle of Mice and never minded Jarboe/The Swans, but never actively seeked out their material.
Garrett: I found out about 13 because Liz Buckingham used to play with them, but I can't say I've heard of Battle of Mice or Jarboe.
More info on Vulture at: www.myspace.com/vulturedoom & vulturedoom.blogspot.com
Interview conducted by Lance via email during January 2010.