Interview Doulos

In this interview, we dive into Doulos' new single "Bellum," their commitment to core values, and how they use music to inspire both reflection and action.

1. Doulos has always been a band that stands by its beliefs and principles. How do you balance delivering hard-hitting music while staying true to your core values?

I think our core values always come first. We typically have an idea of what we want our songs to be about before ever writing a lyric or riff. The music I suppose is just an extention of ourselves individually. Whatever is on our hearts comes out through the filter of our collective musical inspirations.

2. "Bellum" has been described as a track that feels like a punch to the gut, with powerful riffs and relentless energy. What inspired this song, both musically and lyrically?

Quite frankly, we wanted to deliver an ignorantly heavy song that would stand alone in our discography. We took a slight departure from our typical sound. I think the idea was to have a droning yet evolving rhythm throughout the song, to really highlight the lyrics, which are really about fighting our inner demons, and I guess puffing our chests out at literal demons, to put it simply.

3. You’ve played charity shows and donated merch proceeds to support causes like the fight against sex trafficking. Can you tell us more about what drives you to use your platform for social good, and how this ties into the band’s ethos?

Doulos is a band, but we are also a ministry. We are in this space of being able to do really cool things. We can play DIY house shows, we can play venues, and we can play at churches. To us, having any platform, no matter how big or small, means we can try to help our fellow humans. If we weren't a band we would still be doing that. It's just what we are called to do.

4. Your previous releases, like The Middle Man EP and Birth Pains, have been well-received, with The Metal Onslaught praising your expertise. How does "Bellum" push the Doulos sound further?

Bellum is super heavy, a lot heavier than anything we have ever put out. It was intentional though. We want to have this sound be the last thing in people's ear before hearing what's next from us.

5. The hardcore scene can be a tough place to make a lasting mark. What’s it like navigating the modern metal landscape as a band from Riverside, and how has your journey shaped your music?

We just want to make music people can mosh to, and write lyrics that are meaningful. If that makes any lasting mark, then we're content. Hardcore is one of the only scenes where there are so many songs that talk about the scene itself. I think more than any other, people really take pride in it, especially from the Inland Empire where we're from. We've gotten to see the rebirth of the IEHC scene, and it's been really fun.

6. The militaristic drum patterns and tectonic-shifting riffs in "Bellum" really stand out. Can you talk about how you approached the songwriting and production of this single?

The idea for the song came first. We were very intentional on what it was about, and who it was for. The idea for the music was, let's just have one single riff that takes us through the entirety of the song. Something we never do. In fact, the sound engineer who records us has joked about how we have so many sections and tempo changes in our songs.

7. Rottweiler Records has been your home for this release. How has your partnership with the label helped Doulos grow, and what’s the experience been like working with them?

The Rottweiler guys are awesome, very supportive of our ideas and understand the ministry aspect as well. Plus is helps that they aren't put off by our sense of humor.

8. Hardcore is known for its raw energy and intensity, both live and on record. How do you channel that emotion and aggression when you’re performing, and what do you want your fans to experience during your shows?

We all are part of the hardcore scene and are constantly at shows. You can catch some of us at any given show moshing with everyone else. On stage we do the same. We want people to move, and the more they move, the more we do. Live shows are an intense exchange of energy, at least the best ones are.

9. You’ve mentioned that Doulos is unwilling to compromise or water down your music. How do you stay authentic to your sound and message when there’s pressure in the industry to conform?

For us compromise is not even an option. But we certainly have felt the pressure. We've said it before, but it seems we are "too Christian" for some, and "not Christian enough" for others. And that's fine.

10. With "Bellum" set to release on August 30th, what can we expect from Doulos in the future? Is this single a taste of what’s to come for your next album?
Bellum was inteted to stand on its own. So, while there might be some new things on our next record, you can still expect it to sound like xDoulosx.

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