So we've made it to the last day of Tech Fest, emotions are running high and the line-up is as killer as can be. This is the first of two interviews from Sunday which will then be followed by a live review of the bands I saw (which, due to interviews, ended up being the fewest of all the days). I bring you Italy's Destrage:
Earlier this year I fell in love with Destrage's new album Are you kidding me? No. and it will no doubt end up on my year-end list but how did they hold up live? They were actually pretty damn amazing if you ask me. Their music is technical but fun, catchy but complex (I feel like I've used that exact phrase before but I'll let it slide) and they pulled it off brilliantly while still maintaining a fantastic stage presence.
They played only songs from their latest album which is understandable and I can't say I mind. I really like their previous album The King is Fat'n'old but the new one is without a doubt their strongest yet. They started with album opener Destroy Create Transform Sublimate and I was so glad they kept the magnificent breakcore part in the end of it in the live setting as it's one of my favorite parts on the album. Vocalist Paolo pulled off his insanely varied vocals with style, guitarists Matteo and Ralph melted faces with fretboard acrobatics, drummer Federico and bassist Gabriel kept it all together and of course had some great moments to shine themselves.
They ended their set with the title track from Are you kidding me? No. and as Ron Thal did a guest solo on that Ralph and Matteo shredded their own solos instead which were fantastic and it felt fresh instead of the typical "damn, I miss the original solo" feeling one would expect. Destrage get a 10/10 on stage, in the studio and in person.
They ended their set with the title track from Are you kidding me? No. and as Ron Thal did a guest solo on that Ralph and Matteo shredded their own solos instead which were fantastic and it felt fresh instead of the typical "damn, I miss the original solo" feeling one would expect. Destrage get a 10/10 on stage, in the studio and in person.
Speaking of "in person" we sat down with Paolo after the show and spent a bit of quality time together. If you want to get technical we could even call it an interview:
1. I've listened to all three of your albums and the difference between them is pretty significant, how did the process feel for you?
Paolo: It's always been a natural progression. The music just grows up with us, when we get older we have more experiences and have more to say. We all come from different backgrounds and the music we make is always moving with our lives.
The funny thing is when we showed Metal Blade the new album they were like "This sounds like a different band, are all the same members there?"
I would get that if you had gone from the first one to the new one but I'd say there are definitive similarities between The King is Fat'n'Old and Are You Kidding Me? No. Even from the first album I feel like you retain that sound in a part here and there. Like that part in Purania directly after the clean guitar part, do you know what part I'm referring to?
Paolo: Yeah.
I feel like that's in a similar style, vocally and in the riffing style but then you go into a completely different direction.
2. You mentioned you were all from different backgrounds and I remember when Metalsucks streamed your album they described it as "Psyopus+Sikth+Van Halen". Do you think that's an apt description, does it represent your different backgrounds accurately?
Paolo: Well, for me personally the only one of those that's an influence is Sikth but like I said we come from very different backgrounds musically and otherwise. Influences are as varied as Sikth, New York hardcore, The Prodigy and so on. It might be difficult because of the 5 backgrounds to write together but we have our own way to write together.
I just noticed you have the album artwork tattooed on your arm, can I see it a bit better?
Paolo: No problem.
1. I've listened to all three of your albums and the difference between them is pretty significant, how did the process feel for you?
Paolo: It's always been a natural progression. The music just grows up with us, when we get older we have more experiences and have more to say. We all come from different backgrounds and the music we make is always moving with our lives.
The funny thing is when we showed Metal Blade the new album they were like "This sounds like a different band, are all the same members there?"
I would get that if you had gone from the first one to the new one but I'd say there are definitive similarities between The King is Fat'n'Old and Are You Kidding Me? No. Even from the first album I feel like you retain that sound in a part here and there. Like that part in Purania directly after the clean guitar part, do you know what part I'm referring to?
Paolo: Yeah.
I feel like that's in a similar style, vocally and in the riffing style but then you go into a completely different direction.
2. You mentioned you were all from different backgrounds and I remember when Metalsucks streamed your album they described it as "Psyopus+Sikth+Van Halen". Do you think that's an apt description, does it represent your different backgrounds accurately?
Paolo: Well, for me personally the only one of those that's an influence is Sikth but like I said we come from very different backgrounds musically and otherwise. Influences are as varied as Sikth, New York hardcore, The Prodigy and so on. It might be difficult because of the 5 backgrounds to write together but we have our own way to write together.
I just noticed you have the album artwork tattooed on your arm, can I see it a bit better?
Paolo: No problem.
That's beautiful, works great as album art but also really nice as a tattoo. Who designed the artwork?
Paolo: The same guy who did the tattoo actually, Marco Tafuri.
3. Do you guys have a dream tour?
Paolo: Our European tour this fall is pretty close to being our dream tour. It's us, Protest The Hero, The Faceless and The Contortionist.
That's one hell of a tour. So you'll be back in the UK soon?
Paolo: No, we sadly won't be playing those dates.
4. On your last two albums you've had guest guitarists come in and do solos, is there any artist you'd love to collaborate with?
Paolo: We'd love to work with Justice or The Prodigy but I guess a collaboration is a bit more difficult than just getting someone to play a guest spot.
5. I know the new album is really recent but do you have any idea when to expect something new?
Paolo: Well, we're always putting something together. We'll probably work on it full-time next year and hopefully release it in 2016.
6. Finally, the most important question of all: When will the forest speak?
Paolo: When Destrage come back to the UK and play in the forest while all the animals listen, with no shoes on...no girls allowed.
That's without a doubt the most original answer we've gotten.
Thanks for the interview and good luck with all your future endeavors, hope to see you here again next year.
-
In the end of our interview we got a special guest at our table, some might call him Jason Butler but I would not. At least we got a good picture out of it.
Paolo: The same guy who did the tattoo actually, Marco Tafuri.
3. Do you guys have a dream tour?
Paolo: Our European tour this fall is pretty close to being our dream tour. It's us, Protest The Hero, The Faceless and The Contortionist.
That's one hell of a tour. So you'll be back in the UK soon?
Paolo: No, we sadly won't be playing those dates.
4. On your last two albums you've had guest guitarists come in and do solos, is there any artist you'd love to collaborate with?
Paolo: We'd love to work with Justice or The Prodigy but I guess a collaboration is a bit more difficult than just getting someone to play a guest spot.
5. I know the new album is really recent but do you have any idea when to expect something new?
Paolo: Well, we're always putting something together. We'll probably work on it full-time next year and hopefully release it in 2016.
6. Finally, the most important question of all: When will the forest speak?
Paolo: When Destrage come back to the UK and play in the forest while all the animals listen, with no shoes on...no girls allowed.
That's without a doubt the most original answer we've gotten.
Thanks for the interview and good luck with all your future endeavors, hope to see you here again next year.
-
In the end of our interview we got a special guest at our table, some might call him Jason Butler but I would not. At least we got a good picture out of it.
Listen to Destrage's new album, if you like it, buy it and listen until you love it.
If you don't like it, buy it and listen until you love it.
If you don't like it, buy it and listen until you love it.
Jón Þór
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