PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR US WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOU AND YOUR MUSIC AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
Our sound falls under the extreme metal category (death, black, thrash, doom and grind metal genres). Having played in several bands before, we formed in 2012 to ultimately become a six-piece including a drummer, 2 guitars, bass, vocals and keyboards.
Following the production of our debut album 'Univerself', the band has been present in the UK live scene primarily in London and the Home Counties.
Now as a 5 piece, and following the release of our second album 'The Death and its Slaughter', we plan to continue gigging whilst writing for our third album which we expect to begin producing in 2023.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM OR SINGLE?
The Death and its Slaughter was recorded at Monroe Studio in Stargard, Poland consisting of 7 songs covering a range of topics - this was by no means a 'concept album'.
WHAT INSPIRED THE ALBUM OR SINGLE?
As mentioned the album covers a range of topics including for example: insights taken from citizens during the bubonic plague (as the basis for 'Plague Bringer'), the importance of remembrance in relation to those fallen during wartime ('The Burning Shadows of Memories') and the seemingly self-destructive nature that humanity is prone to ('Human Condition').
CAN YOU SUM UP THE ALBUM IN A FEW WORDS?
Dark and melodic with dissonant textures at times.
WHAT RECORD CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
Owen: Spawn of Possession's Incurso in 2012 felt like a new level in terms of technicality fused with dark-sounding melodies layered in dissonance. It took their earlier release 'Noctambulant' to a whole new level and the orchestral arrangements were cleverly structured in a way that did not come across as too forced or clichéd.
SeeKing: Diamentowa Kula by Lombard. Would happily have that played at my funeral.
City by Strapping Young Lad. From beginning to end it was a schizophrenic blend of euphoria, rage, chaos and anarchy that shaped what can be done if you look outside of the box. It was written with honest lyrics and musical layers that inspire me to push myself and experiment with styles and genres.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO FILMED BY YOUR BAND OR ANOTHER ARTIST?
Owen: Anaal Nathrakh's Endarkenment video is up there along with Feared's 'By Silent Screaming. Stories can be told more richly through the animation format. Bands that otherwise couldn't afford movie-level production can therefore sidestep those limitations in that way.
Richard: Dying Vision Human Condition. I know that it might be considered self-indulgent to choose our own video, but it is because we overcame the restrictions set by Covid which prevented us from being able to record a music video in the more traditional way. I was lucky to be put in contact with
‘Gaz’ at Sinister Arts and between us, we made a lyric video for 'Human Condition'. I was very proud of that since the narrative was conveyed effectively.
WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUSIC?
We all have full-time jobs, some of us have families living with them and others have additional bands that they are part of (Owen for example is also a member of Edge of Ruin and Tyrannos). Outside of creating music we are all fans/consumers of music ourselves too and actively seeking new music. Other interests of some members include photography, fishing and working out at the gym.
DO YOU GET NERVOUS PERFORMING LIVE, IF SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
Practise to the point where adverse conditions are no longer impacting performance (lighting, heat and anything else that you may experience live). I do not think it is necessarily possible to eradicate nerves and if it were it would most likely be because the member just did not care anymore. Some pressure to make diamonds as the saying goes.
HOW DID YOU FORM THE BAND?
Following the dissolution of Diachronia in 2012, Krzysztof 'Starash' Grabowski, Daniel 'SeeKing' Stanik, Kofi formed the band. Later adding Pawel 'Navar' Wójcik and Mavors Herra on Keyboards to produce the debut album Univerself.
HOW DO YOU WRITE? - DO YOU HAVE A KEY SONGWRITER, OR DO YOU ALL WORK TOGEHTER?
An instrumental demo of a song was brought in by Starash or Navar. After the songs had been fleshed out in the rehearsal space, lyrics were added by Virian and Richard for Univerself and The Death and its Slaughter respectively.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Starash: Musical influences include: early Metallica, Iron Maiden, Death Slayer and Emperor. Non-musical influences: the power of nature and the cosmos.
Richard: Music (bands) include Death, Strapping Young Lad, Devin Townsend, Vader, Kreator, Zeal and Ardor, Gojira, Hypocrisy, Entombed, Bolt Thrower, Napalm Death, Slayer, Sep, Testament, Sepultura.
Literature sources – Such as HP Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Shakespeare also Philosophers like Carl Jung, Nietzsche, Alan Watts and Terrance McKenna.
Other Sources – Big Influences are Bill Hicks, George Carlin, Robin Williams, Joe Rogan, Jim Jefferies, Graham Hancock and Jordan Peterson
Owen: Music (bands) include Rush, Cream, De Lirium’s Order, Cryptopsy, Hexen, Death, Opeth, Ouroborus, Cynic, Akercocke, Athiest, Pestilence, Martyr, Spawn of Possession and Abhorrent.
Bass guitar musician influences: Geddy Lee, Jack Bruce, Erlend Caspersen, Steve Di Giorgio, Jereon Paul Thesseling, Steve Cloutier, Eric Langois, Tony Choy, Victor Wootten, Evan Brewer, Geezer Butler, Anton Zhikharev and D.D Verni.
Literature that indirectly influences lyrics for the upcoming album: Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus, Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche, various short stories by Issac Asimov, a few of Christopher Hitchens’ books (excluding the autobiographical ones) and 1984 by George Orwell.
Cormac McCarthy’s gritty storytelling in ‘The Road’ and Clive Barker’s way of painting a horrific scene no doubt left their mark too. Read the scene where Frank is blinded in a corridor and what he looks upon as he regains sight at the beginning of ‘Hellbound Heart’. That was a masterclass in ‘less is more' and leaving space for the imagination. The scene could not go into the film back then - no doubt because of what it described!
My latest source for gritty storytelling has been crime dramas set in Denmark or Sweden. The Killing, The Bridge, Beck, Wallander and I have just started watching Trom – can’t get enough of them!
WHAT IS NEXT?
For the remainder of 2022, the plan is to continue writing for our third album whilst gigging. After that, we will prepare and enter the studio for the recording and production.
PLEASE TELL US ANY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS SO WE CAN SHARE.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DyingVision
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyingvisionuk/
Bandcamp: dyingvision.bandcamp.com/
SongKick: https://www.songkick.com/artists/8536394-dying-vision
Bands in Town: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/6046953-dying-vision