Meet Post Death Soundtrack: creators of 'Veil Lifter,' a cathartic journey blending grunge, metal, and existential themes. Prepare for raw energy and introspective depths.
1.
Congratulations on the upcoming release of Veil Lifter! How does it feel to
have this album ready for your fans?
It feels incredible. The album took almost 3 years to reach the finish line, so
it's understandably cathartic to have it reach the public and see that people
are digging it.
2. Veil Lifter marks a departure from your previous sound. What inspired
this shift towards a more organic, live sound?
Although we listen to a wide range of music and have in the past showcased
influences ranging from Skinny Puppy to Massive Attack, most of what we listen
to tends to be a mixture of the 90's grunge and metal movements as well as
modern doom and sludge metal like Windhand, YOB and Russian Circles. So
naturally, mixing the heavy Nirvana and Alice in Chains influence with this
sound made perfect sense.
3. Can you tell us more about the thematic inspirations behind Veil Lifter,
particularly the concept of "lifting the veil of ignorance"?
This is an Eastern concept of removing the illusion of seperation and seeing
the world as it is - or, perceiving the oneness in all things. Lyrically, I
define the 'Veil Lifter' as a central character who has overcome this himself,
risen above fear, and has the power to awaken others.
4. Steve, you mentioned that this album was written during challenging
times. How did these personal struggles influence the music and lyrics?
They helped me write in a totally uncensored way, and it was very clear this
was going to be quite a dark album. I've been through cancer, divorce,
addiction, depression, betrayal, you name it. Most of the lyrics are cloaked in
metaphor, but they're all painted from real life.
5. The album features a diverse range of influences, from Alice in Chains to
contemporary heavy music artists. How did you balance these influences while
maintaining your unique sound?
I just wrote a ton of riffs and saved them on my phone. Although my initial
inspirations were artists like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains
and Tool, I also have developed a unique guitar style that fits my personality.
The guitar work was the basis where everything else was built from. I've
developed my own vocal style, too, that just feels right. Jon added fuzzed out
bass that reminds me of Kris Novaselic's excellent playing on 'In Utero', an
album that heavily inspired this album. Mashing together the grunge influences
with hardcore punk, punk rock, sludge and doom metal is the perfect mix for me.
You end up coming out with something original.
6. "Lowdown Animal" has been described as a visceral track. What
was the inspiration behind this song, both musically and lyrically?
It's a song about abandonment and vicious determination at the same time. I
think of hyenas with this song (it could have been called "Hyena
Song"!) because they are feared and often seen as unwelcome outsiders. I
have felt that way often, so this is certainly outsider music for the
counter-culture, or anyone who has faced abandonment, bullying, etc. It's also
about regaining personal power though, because, you know, hyenas are very
crafty and they will even surround lions while laughing.
7. Steve, you dedicated Veil Lifter to your father. How did his memory
influence the album's creation?
I am very stubborn in the sense that I like to write in an abstract way
lyrically, which comes from my heavy Kurt Cobain influence. So, there are no
direct references to my father on the album. However, when we were in the
middle of recording 'Immovable', it all felt very epic, and Jon had these snowy
mountains on his tv screen at the time. We mentioned that this was the best
thing we've ever done to date. Something about my Dad now having moved on from
this world and inhabiting the wider Universe, the song felt like a prayer of
sorts. When I wrote 'Assume all bodies. Pervade all pathways. Die to the false
world. Leave through the back door.' I was thinking of my Dad as a being who
was now all-pervasive, and how spirit is undefeatable. Death can't even reach
it.
8. What was it like working with Casey Lewis on this record, and how did his
contributions impact the overall sound?
It's always fun working with Casey Lewis, and we have become good friends over
the years. The more we get to know each other, the more we relate and enjoy
each other's company. I've known him to some degree since playing in punk metal
bands like Inner Surge in 2002 onwards. Working with him this time around was
incredible. When Jon and I initially recorded these songs, we had placeholder
drums from a post-metal drum pack. This was initially how we were going to do
things, but it became apparent we needed more heaviness and life. Casey brought
that 10-fold. His drumming is a huge factor in this album. And his studio, Echo
Base, is second to none. The mixing and mastering he did on 'Veil Lifter' gave
everything serious punch and fullness. He brought it to life, and this is by
far the best sounding record I've been a part of.
9. Can you share any insights into the making of the music video for
"Burrowing Down the Spine"? What themes or messages does it convey?
I have been simply using an AI program to bring some of the lyrical themes to
life. I know AI is controversial right now, but, to be clear, we used an
original artist for our front and back covers. The AI visualizers are simply to
present cool, weird videos. 'Burrowing Down the Spine' is just a phrase I
liked, but it has some inspiration from the concept of kundalini awakening, but
you're just digging down instead. The lyricism covers everything from being
draped in illusion and dishonesty to embracing the Void. I also tend to put
something similar to an Empress character in some of the videos because I
recently experience a bad break up haha.
10. "Icy Underground" is the lead single from Veil Lifter. What do
you hope listeners take away from this track?
The track is a bit apocalyptic, lyrically going through our human predicament
on Earth. But the chorus kind of calls us to find our own solace, or healing
waters, and it restores some faith that there is peace to be found within.
11. With the vinyl release on the horizon, how do you think the analog
format complements the raw energy of Veil Lifter?
I own around 2,000 records, so I'm a vinyl geek. This in particular is an album
that needs to be heard on vinyl, mainly because the musicianship is heavy,
punchy and there's ample bass.
12. As a band, what do you hope audiences experience or feel when they
listen to the album in its entirety?
I hope they feel stood up for and inspired. I hope they get the same feeling I
got when I first heard 'Dirt' or 'In Utero'.
13. Looking ahead, what are your plans and aspirations for Post Death Soundtrack following the release of Veil Lifter?
More albums and collaborations with Casey Lewis. I have over 500 song ideas saved in Dropbox and I'm ready to sort through them and write the next album!
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