What was the inspiration behind the album’s title, “Impregnate My Hate,” and how does it relate to the overall theme of the album?
As far as what this album is about… ‘Impregnate My Hate’, as a phrase really sums it up…. Modern times… Most folks are jumping down each other’s throats, willing vessels to the online projection of what modern entertainment and communication should be. It’s also incredibly fun to say.
Can you elaborate on the idea of exploring the shattered and celebrating the depravity used to nurture ourselves at the moment? How do you explore these themes through your music?
It’s not something we really try to bring out… it’s just an extension of who we are and what we were going through at the time the music was written. Ever watch Mr. Rodgers play piano and say that he’s ‘crying through his hands’? Same shit, neighbor.
How do you feel about the current state of society and its fragmentation into niche groups, and how does this influence your music?
It doesn’t really affect our music though… it’s an element to some of the lyrics but we didn’t want it to be THE focus point. The focus is fun… the lyrics are in pure death metal / Metalocaplypse tongue-in-cheek style. The more serious interpretations are like an optional side quest.
“Scorchbreath” is about having a great time, specifically when you went to Movement with friends you made that day. How do you feel about the importance of shared experiences in creating meaningful connections with others?
The emotion from the music has to come from an honest place. A couple of dudes making music in a basement while joking around and laughing their asses off is a good place to start. We basically let this album write itself by traveling/ hanging out over the course of a few years. Whenever eventful shit happened we turned it into a song.
How did the old TV series “V” influence the lyrics of “Impregnate My Hate,” and what message were you trying to convey through the song?
Those lyrics were written before I saw the series, so no connection there. The theme is definitely similar though, and when I saw “V” I thought they executed the concept very well. The song Impregnate My Hate is more or less about a person that walks around dressing up corpses as they see fit and giving them a good fuckin. Maybe some of the corpses even enjoy it and experience rebirth with a new purpose. Loads of people experience this every day through social media/ the news etc. It’s pretty surface-level stuff.
“Can’t Escape This” explores the choices people make while celebrating, regardless of the amount of work they have done. How do you approach writing lyrics that are relatable to a wide audience?
While we’re stoked if people relate, this is really just about chronicling personal experiences. The lyrics are a completely in-the-moment thing. No deeper thoughts or initiatives there… lyric first drafts are written from the cuff, typically first thing in the morning after a pot of coffee.
The ending solo on “Can’t Escape This” is one of your favorites on the album. What makes it stand out, and how does it contribute to the overall feel of the song?
Adam- It’s so effortless. Shon has this nice balance of trem picking and bends that bounce perfectly off the other instruments and lyrics. It’s the perfect solo for ‘Can’t Escape This’ because it’s so aware of the song’s story, pace, and emotional cadence.
“Scorpions of Sinai” is your fastest song on the album and is heavily inspired by underground techno vibes. How did you incorporate these influences into the song’s structure and instrumentation?
Detroit/Berlin-style techno will hypnotically draw a listener in with shadows, suggestions, and tension. It can be over the top, but it works just as well at a slower pace as well. Eventually, these elements of tension that all seemed disparate unite to blow your mind. There’s a lot going on here but it’s all intentional and all comes in on that last chorus.
How did “My Uncle Oswald” by Roald Dahl inspire the lyrics of “Scorpions of Sinai,” and what was your experience like reading the book?
This ties in well with the last question! That story has a lot of foreshadowing and reads even better the second or third time. That was the goal of this song. On the surface, it’s the fastest song on the album, but it also has some of the slowest chord movements on the album. Each part, while completely different, fits perfectly with the others.
How do you balance humor and heaviness in your music?
It’s metal with dirt vocals. It’ll be heavy damn near automatic. The humor and pacing are a fun way to play with the heaviness. Also, we don’t take ourselves too seriously and just have fun. Most of the concepts on this album started as a good laugh over drinks.
“Death Frontier” is about celebrating the filth you live in, even if it means being alone. Can you expand on this idea and how it relates to the overall theme of the album?
Filth is really dependent on the person and context. Living in a dirt-ridden, messy apartment and partying often might seem filthy, but if you’re making music and doing what you love then who cares? Why work more… the end goal is to make art and live a full life. Bonus if you get to do it with your friends.
“Tantric Aspects of the Cross” was originally called “Malicious Compliance” and was partially written while you were working long hours at a shipyard. How did your personal experiences influence the song’s lyrics?
Debt sucks! I was working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week at a shipyard in the Pacific Northwest to pay it off as fast as possible. Everyone there was doing the same shit…whether it was student loans, child support, or alimony. Nobody was happy.
I remember getting called into a quarterly ‘goals’ meeting and management put “0 divorces on the team. Please tell us if mandatory OT hours are causing conflict at home” as a slide in the presentation.
Another time the shipyard sent some of us to work at a yard in another country. They gave us a two-day ‘culture training’ about this country’s customs, traditions, respect, etc. The first question following the cultural sensitivity training was “What’s the age of consent in [country]”? We were all fucking degenerates. Nobody liked the job, and nobody liked management. We were tethered to the job for the insane overtime on the paycheck. The song is a direct result of that dynamic.
How do you balance the aggressive, mindless moments in your music with slower, somber moments, and what do you hope to convey through these contrasts?
The basis for the whole project is emotion and storytelling. Each listener should experience something different, but ideally, the overarching theme is FUN. The project isn’t really an intellectual exercise. It should be surface-level fun with the option for some deeper shit if/when ready.
From your point of view, how can we find a balance between the demands of our mind, body, and spirit, and navigate the inner conflicts that arise when they seem to be in opposition to one another?
Whoa… that’s a lot. Let us offer some insight. Shon loves popsicles and eating popsicles is a big part of his self-care. He recommends it to anyone experiencing inner conflict.
How do you hope listeners will respond to “Impregnate My Hate,” and what message do you hope they take away from the album? Thank you!
Adam and Shon have been busking/performing the album on the street outside Seattle sports stadiums. We hit a Mariner’s playoff game last year and just played outside a Seattle Kraken hockey playoff game. On both occasions, Mariners/Kraken fans started some moshpits on the street and had a good fuckin time. We hope people have fun with the music. Thank you!
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