Interview with Spiral Grave

Hi! How did the end of Iron Man and Lord influence the formation and musical identity of Spiral Grave?
It was kind of by accident. I (Dee) was focusing on my solo work and got a call from Willy (Rivera, guitar) about putting a band together. I had recorded vocals for a track on his solo album, and he was very impressed and wanted to do something with that sort of vibe. Since it was something being put together from the ground up, I suggested bringing in Lou (Strachan, bass) and Mot (Waldmann, drums) to round out the lineup, and Spiral Grave was born.

Can you describe how the isolation and global uncertainty during the COVID lockdowns influenced your songwriting and lyrical themes for ‘Ill Repute’?
Our output was always dark and heavy from day one, so the seeds for that sort of thing were already there. Lockdowns only amplified those feelings, and the fact that we couldn’t play live shows really allowed to just focus on writing and honing the songs that became Ill Repute. We had time to let them breathe and really dial in the vibes that we were looking for.

What does the title ‘Ill Repute’ signify, and how does it relate to the themes explored in the album?
The song Ill Repute is the result of my asking myself “what would be the worst place to die?” For me, it would be in a crack house in my hometown. We felt that would make a good title for the album, and the bleak themes it generates seemed to be perfect.

What was it like working with Frank Marchand, and how did he influence the final sound of ‘Ill Repute’?
Lou, Mot and I had worked with Frank before, while recording Iron Man’s South of the Earth. Frank is a joy to work with. He’s a guy who really gets the best out of you, and it’s always a pleasure to have him pushing you in the right direction. He knew exactly what we wanted, and went above and beyond in making it happen.

Can you share specific instances or lyrics in ‘Ill Repute’ where the emotions of the lockdown period are most pronounced?
I think the most frustrating thing about COVID was how the powers that be responded – or to be more accurate, didn’t respond – to everything. The song (Raising the) Chalice talks about rising up against that: “Raising the chalice, raising the pulse; praise be the malice, it brings a result; bring down the hammer, bludgeon the cult; in panic they stammer and act to repulse.”

Reflecting on your debut album, ‘Legacy of the Anointed,’ what lessons did you learn from that experience that impacted the creation of ‘Ill Repute’?
We just continued on with what we had begun with Legacy. We had really gelled as a songwriting team, and knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We leaned into those strengths, and pushed one another where the weaknesses were and went hard with it.

What are some of the most memorable moments or challenges you’ve faced while touring extensively around the MD/VA area and beyond?
It’s just great to see people loving what we’re doing. We’ve all be doing this for decades, and it’s very rewarding to look out into a crowd – fans and our peers – really enjoying what we bring to the table. None of us have any delusions about being rock stars, but loving what we do and knowing that others love it makes it all worthwhile and fun.

How have your musical influences evolved over the years, especially transitioning from Iron Man and Lord to Spiral Grave?
All of us in this band have very broad tastes in music. We’re each steeped in metal, but what we each listen to and enjoy goes way beyond that. I think that even music that doesn’t reflect in our overall sound influences us, just because of our love for music overall.

Can you talk about the inspiration behind the artwork for ‘Ill Repute’ and how it connects to the music?
There is a line in the song which says “some chalk has marked the last to go.” The idea of a chalk outline seemed to be a good fit for the cover art, and the numeral 2 is a cool addition because this is our second album.

How have you grown personally and artistically from your time in Iron Man and Lord to your current work with Spiral Grave?
With age and time comes experience and wisdom. I personally joined Iron Man in 2010, and my life and the world is very different now. I definitely take nothing for granted, and cherish every day that I can be creative and do the things I enjoy.

How has the local music scene supported Spiral Grave, and what role does community play in your band’s journey?
We feel like we’re very supported and loved by our friends and fans in the scene here. Many love that Lou, Mot and I continued on together after Al’s (Morris, Iron Man guitarist) passing and the end of Iron Man. There is a huge amount and love in this scene for one another; we want to do well, and we want for all of our friends to do well too. I often say that I’m very lucky to have so many friends who make great music.

How do you view the current global doom metal scene, and where do you see Spiral Grave fitting into it?
Our type of music has returned to where it flourishes most: the underground. All of us in the trenches are able to do what we want with no one telling us to tone it down or to whitewash it. We thrive in that kind of situation as a band.

Looking back on your musical careers, what moments stand out as defining, and how do they shape your vision for the future of Spiral Grave? Thank you!
Wow, far too many to mention or remember, but I think it’s important to say that the dark moments and failures are as valuable to definition and growth as the successes and joys are. Everything around us shapes us in all aspects of life, music and otherwise. A huge reason we do this is for the good fun that it offers, and that in and of itself will keep us moving forward.

Spiral Grave Online:
www.facebook.com/spiralgrave
www.instagram.com/spiralgrave
https://spiralgrave.bandcamp.com/