Glass Casket - Talking to Ian
Ian (Guitar) from Glass Casket was nice enough to spend some of our questions through the digital wonder that is e-mail. So here we go!
1. Please describe Glass Casket to people who aren’t familiar with your music?
It's just straight-up metal. There's not much more to say other than that. We're cool dudes that like to shred and play heavy metal.
2. What are Glass Casket’s main influences musically AND lyrically speaking?
Us instrument-players (I play guitar) are influenced a lot by bands like Decapitated, Necrophagist, and even stuff like Converge and other hardcore bands. Our singer I know takes some influence from Glassjaw but I know he's influenced also by newer stuff such as The Mars Volta and Muse. We have a wide range of influences in our band.
3. The band’s music isn’t the most “accessible” for most normal listeners. Does any of the bandmembers see themselves playing with a more standard rock/metal/punk band later in their careers?
We all have side-hobbies/side-projects that we play around with. I personally play jazz and classical music on the side, one of us has a rock side-project, two of us are in Between the Buried and Me, etc. It's fun to play other stuff now and then.
4. Ok something about your new album now. I know your album hasn’t been released yet but I assume that quite a few reviews have been made by now, how are the reactions so far?
Well, if you're referring to "We Are Gathered Here Today...", it was released here in the U.S. earlier this year, and has received a lot of really good words. We've gotten a lot of good ideas and I think all the reviews we've read have helped us in some way. Other than that, it really just makes us feel good about what we're doing.
1. Please describe Glass Casket to people who aren’t familiar with your music?
It's just straight-up metal. There's not much more to say other than that. We're cool dudes that like to shred and play heavy metal.
2. What are Glass Casket’s main influences musically AND lyrically speaking?
Us instrument-players (I play guitar) are influenced a lot by bands like Decapitated, Necrophagist, and even stuff like Converge and other hardcore bands. Our singer I know takes some influence from Glassjaw but I know he's influenced also by newer stuff such as The Mars Volta and Muse. We have a wide range of influences in our band.
3. The band’s music isn’t the most “accessible” for most normal listeners. Does any of the bandmembers see themselves playing with a more standard rock/metal/punk band later in their careers?
We all have side-hobbies/side-projects that we play around with. I personally play jazz and classical music on the side, one of us has a rock side-project, two of us are in Between the Buried and Me, etc. It's fun to play other stuff now and then.
4. Ok something about your new album now. I know your album hasn’t been released yet but I assume that quite a few reviews have been made by now, how are the reactions so far?
Well, if you're referring to "We Are Gathered Here Today...", it was released here in the U.S. earlier this year, and has received a lot of really good words. We've gotten a lot of good ideas and I think all the reviews we've read have helped us in some way. Other than that, it really just makes us feel good about what we're doing.
5. When I listen to your album I can’t avoid thinking about the ‘The Dillinger Escape Plan-sound’, especially the chaotic elements and the high amount of varying tempos. Do you consider that a fair comparison or not? Why (not)?
We've had a lot of comparisons to them, yes. I don't know if that's a fair comparison or not, because there are lots of bands that use the chaotic/off-time elements such as Meshuggah, BTBaM, DEP, etc. and all the way back to the classical composer Dvorak. It's a good comparison to make in a general sense, and definitely a compliment, but there are a lot of differences between us too.
6. In the song 'In Between The Sheets' there are even some melodic parts, was that something we can expect more of in the future or is that a “one time affair”?
We're not sure really. Songs have always been something organic for us. They kind of grow in their own ways and in that particular song, that's the way it grew and evolved. We do have a melodic part (sans-singing) in one of our new songs, but it has more of a metal feel to it. I'm sure there will be more surprises to come.
7. What would be the worst thing that could happen while being on tour? (Besides bandmembers that get shot or equipment that gets stolen).
Well I think obviously those two things are the worst things that could happen, and luckily neither has happened, but also getting completely lost or something like that would be bad. I'm not sure, I try not to think about it!
8. When can we expect Glass Casket to tour overseas?
There has been talk of it recently, and I personally (this isn't fact) would say probably in the next year and a half.
9. If you had the opportunity to pick one band to take with you on that overseas tour, which band would it be?
Personally, I'd pick Red Orchestra Radio, they're an amazing band from here in North Carolina.
10. Your drummer Blake is now playing drums for Between The Buried And Me. Although you guys say that GC will not suffer with that, isn’t the band afraid that someone might get a bit “too busy” with an other band or project?
Actually Dustie is in the band too now, and it hasn't been a problem. Things are still going well with GC and we're really glad that they're a part of both bands.
11. What is the most important thing you’d like to achieve with your band in the future?
I've achieved everything I could dream of! I don't know, we've had a music video, a worldwide CD, nationwide tours, I guess the only thing left to do is tour Europe. Can't wait to see you guys there!
http://www.glasscasket.com