Sunday, December 16, 2012

Without Mercy (Death Metal from Abbotsford, BC)


Official Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/withoutmercyband

Biography :- What’s in a name? Everything. And Vancouver-based Without Mercy certainly stays true to its name. Ruthless and menacing, these Canadian metal titans have cultivated a fused death/thrash sound that shows off the band’s respect for, and dedication to, both genres. Their progressive hybrid sound coupled with a notorious reputation for throwing down an unyielding, intense live show, have proved that hardcore attitude can only equal hardcore results.

Following the 2007 release of their first EP, All Else Fails, Without Mercy released its self-titled, full-length debut. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Vancouver’s legendary Factory Studios (Devin Townsend, Mudvayne, Marilyn Manson), the release is the next stage of evolution for this up-and-coming four-piece.

Without Mercy has already shared the stage with Norwegian black metal legends Satyricon, Original Bay Area Thrashers DEATH ANGEL, Augury, Aborted, System Divide and Canadian favourites DIVINITY. Expect to hear a lot more from Without Mercy in the very near future as the band gets set to make some key appearances and take Canada by storm with a cross-country tour.





Interview with DJ TEMPLE the founder and lead guitarist of WITHOUT MERCY
Jonathan - What makes a good Death Metal band?
DJ - Honesty. If you really believe in what you’re doing and the message that you’re sending, it comes across.
Jonathan - What's your opinion of the DIY movement?
DJ - I think it was bound to happen. Everything in life seems to be getting more and more streamlined, especially with the affordability of home recording equipment. Things like Facebook and tumblr have also compounded the ability for a musician to reach a wider fan base. I really think it comes to down to accessibility and affordability.
Jonathan - I really believe the only passionate way to do music is with your heart. But sometimes hard times and trouble can get in the way. Why is it so important for you to be in a band and do you have any funny stories to tell?
DJ - I'll be honest. At first I really wanted to be in a band because it brought with it a certain level of prestige amongst my other friends who are simply athletes or gamers. It represented something different that I was doing with my life. After a while that prestige wasn’t a driving force anymore. It has become so much of who I am and it has shaped the way I make decisions. It’s also one of the healthiest outlets I have for anything that is troubling or stress related. Funny stories? Haha those are going to have to wait for another time.
Jonathan - What's the origin of the band name, Without Mercy?
DJ - It stemmed from long list of names that I pondered over for a very long time. Eventually it got short listed down to 3 and WITHOUT MERCY was the one that seemed the most appropriate.
Jonathan - Have you changed the band's name before?
DJ - In the early stages of just jamming with people and trying to find a musical direction, we tossed around a few name ideas. It hasn’t changed since we began playing live.


Jonathan - Who are your major influences? Or do you just write what you like and that is the result?
DJ - When we write songs, we honestly write with a mood or an idea that strikes us. From there it tends to develop further and the end result is almost always something that we consider to be badass!
Jonathan - How long have you all known each other?
DJ - Matt and I have been around since the beginning. So that puts us playing together since 2006. Our vocalist and bassist have just joined the ranks. So ask me that question in another 6 years hahaha.
Jonathan - How did you meet?
DJ - Matt and I met through a mutual friend. Eventually we got together to jam and it was an instant success. Years of growing and melding ideas have brought us to this point. The vocalist we have now was a long-time fan of the band and would come to shows and even knew all the words. When we parted ways with the previous vocalist, we grabbed him immediately and it’s worked out fantastic since then. The bassist we have now has been a friend of Matt’s for years. So we got in touch with him and bam!
Jonathan - When did you form your band? 
DJ - I decided to try and form the band in 2003. By 2006 we had some concrete members and things have grown and evolved from there.

Jonathan - What inspired you to make music together?
DJ - Overall passion for the concept of writing original material and performing it live. It’s really that simple.
Jonathan - Im sure some countries or crowds are more enthusiastic than others, do you have any particular anecdotes to tell us? Any funny moments? Disappointments?
DJ - We have been lucky in the sense that almost every crowd we play for gets really into it! One place that really stands out in my mind has always been PRICE GEORGE B.C. Those people are crazy!
Jonathan - Which songs do you perform most frequently?
DJ - It’s always the most current album with some new tunes. You can see us now performing the hits from the first record with our entire new album.
Jonathan - Do you ever play any covers?
DJ - None of us would be playing the music that we are if it wasn’t for Pantera. So we like to pay homage to them when we can.


Jonathan - Who writes your songs?
DJ - It’s usually a collaborative effort. This new album was primarily written by myself.
Jonathan - What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?
DJ - This time around the general theme is coming back from the bottom. Kind of a rebirthing of sorts, hence the name of the album: “Reborn”. There’s a lot of references to standing up for yourself and not giving up.
Jonathan - Do you think these topics will change over time?
DJ - I think the general idea won’t change. Perhaps the way it is delivered might, but for the most part these themes are quite strongly rooted in what we are.
Jonathan - Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
DJ - It’s an interesting beast. Typically there is a guitar riff or two that we start to jam on. After that, we start to expand the song based on feeling and flow. Once the semi-concrete skeleton is there we start to add vocal ideas. Then it’s a retouch and fine tune until the song is complete.
Jonathan - What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
DJ - We have a definite practice schedule each week and we do our best not to deviate from that too much.
Jonathan - How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
DJ - Without question! It stems from the personal growth of each member on their individual instruments and that carries over into the band as a whole.
Jonathan - What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
DJ - Biggest challenge as an indie band is the financial. Hands down this is the most difficult task to overcome. Everything costs money and there never seems to be enough of it to go around. To get through it, we just focus and plan accordingly. If you make a decent enough plan, things will fall into place.
Jonathan - What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
DJ - JUST DO IT! Don’t make excuses for why you can’t start or form a band. It’s so easy to just start jamming with other people so start with that! Enjoy the moment and have fun!


Jonathan - For those who don’t know you, How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
DJ - It’s pretty simple to find us online:
You can even add me directly on Facebook and we’ll chat it up!
Jonathan - And the last question is all yours, you decide what to say here!
DJ - FUCK PUSSY METAL!
DJTemple@withoutmercyband.com
http://www.withoutmercyband.com


Support the Underground Scene, check out these guys and show them some respect!

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