Shaun, first off, thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for AFGM this morning. What are you up to today?
Actually, I am heading into the studio to help out a local band with their new singer on a demo. The band is called DIVIDE and a new up and comer from the Illinois area.
What roots of music did you grow up on that made you want to start playing guitar?
I grew up on the real roots like KISS, UFO, MOTORHEAD as I was never much of a classic rock guy as a kid but was more into harder stuff.
At what age did you realize you wanted to do music as a profession?
I think I was around 15 when i was really focused on learning my chops and focused on music.
Your Noisecreep article was interesting and to be honest, haven't heard of of most of them (save Sacrifice). I take it these were some of the bands you grew up on?
Thanks and yes I loved underground metal as a kid and still do haha but it's a shame that the industry tries to decide who will be known or not. Yes, I loved all 5 bands I mentioned in the NOISECREEP article.
What roles do you take over for in Dirge Within other than guitars? Help with P&R? Tour scheduling? Recording or production? You did the mixing and mastering on the new album with Ari Mihalopoulos right?
I do alot of the day to day stuff. A lot of it aint all too fun but hey someone has to do it or it won't get done but I do ask the other guy's to help with things as well. Yes, ARI and I were a team on the mix of the new album, I feel we made quite a fresh modern sounding metal album and pushed it as far as it could go without losing sight of the real songs.
How was working with Ari?
He is amazing. He had some great ideas on a few songs that Jerms and he focused the most on (ie: Memories & Without You). I think ARI is a name that will get more known sooner than later and his band DESTROPHY is killer.
Was there any difference in writing between Force Fed Lies and TWBB? Can you take us through and average session for creating a song?
I think we just didn't set any rules. We just wrote and whatever was good and we all liked we went with. Some stuff is heavyier and some songs are way more melodic but that is what makes this album fresh as I know it gets old to have 10 songs all sound the same with 300 breakdowns, that aint our trip at all we write SONGS.
There is some killer artwork on your Facebook and other various websites. Who does the artwork?
We use a bunch of artists for merch album a few are Raf and Tom Hane both did alot of the newer work.
How is working with Rocket Science Ventures/Sony Red? How did this record deal come about?
I knew of the label from Nonpoint and saw the diverse roster of how they do things. THOM & KEVIN both seemed into the idea of doing this new album with us and it went forward, they have a solid staff of people and get what it takes to push music in 2012 as it ain't easy these days to get cds in stores when hardly any stores sell them. The key is internet awareness.
I was listening to an interview you had All Knowing Force in regards to touring and support versus headlining. Will you guys be selective of who you support and tour with? Do you think there is a maximum amount of touring time before you feel its time to head back to the studio?
We will be on a cool tour July-Aug titled Shockwave and it will be around 9 killer bands a mini fest style tour package. Yes, we have passed on a few tours that we felt just were not right for us. Tour smart as some bands these days tour just to tour and that is not the smart way to do this.
Going from one style of metal in Broken Hope and transitioning to SoiL, was Dirge Within kind of your middle ground for writing? Your influences from both projects seemed to carry over for a perfect blend of melody, breakdowns and screams.
I guess so but when I left Soil I knew I really wanted to play stuff a tad more musical and grow as a player. I think DW shows way more sides of my playing and writing than any of my former bands. Too be honest I think both Dirge Within CD's are my fave pieces of work hands down.
Gotta ask an early DW question. How was working with Edsel Dope for FFL? Did you work with him much, even if it was only vocal production?
He was ok and no we do not speak much these days as he really changed after working with him. I just felt he maybe was not the right guy for this band and too be honest I think some people maybe didn't give our debut a chance due to his name on it as a lot may have labelled us NU METAL or maybe sounding like Dope which is as far from reality as possible. I do think he had some cool ideas with Jerms on our debut but that is all he did on the album was work with Jerms on vocals. The music and song's were not even recorded @ his studio on that album.
(@ Jeremy Genske) A fair amount of compliments have been going towards not only the writing style and production, but also the vocals and this new dynamic range. Did anything change between albums? Vocal training, new creative angle?
I really just wanted to push myself to expand my vocal range for this new album. To go out of my comfort zone. We had discussed taking some of the newer songs in a different direction, and I knew that a lot of that was on me, vocally. So to prepare I took a "break" from the heavy stuff for a while and listened to the artists that inspire the cleaner side of vocal ability. A lot of classic rock, oldies and modern rock bands. Threw in some Sinatra, Prince and Johnny Cash in there as well. Just to test my range, see what I could do. I just sang a long to it all. Found out what didn't work and what did. Learned how to push notes, curve em a bit and push them. I guess you can say I did my own vocal training haha! Then when Ari came into the picture he helped me hone what I'd been learning and helped me find better notes to use in the songs.
To me as an artist, if you're not constantly trying to push yourself to improve your craft and go against the grain to try new things. Go out of your comfort zone. Then you truly aren't an artist. To say you've acheived every skill you can with your craft, is bullshit.
Was is it you like about Ltd's and EMG's? And what are you using for your setup nowadays?
I love ESP guitars as they are made for what we do and Emg pickups too me are the best for warm crunch and tight tone also we are using the new EVH 5150 3 amps which are beyond sick for a fresh metal tone!
Any pregame rituals before a show? A shot? Special tunes to listen to? Workout?
We kind of get in a fight vibe once our intro goes on, it's kill or be killed on stage and we like to bring the Metal Hammer live 100%.
Have you ever been at a show/played a show where your music and sound was vastly different from the other bands on the bill? If so, What was the crowd reaction and how easy did you feel playing on that stage versus stages shared with similar genre bands?
Not really we did do a show with Korn once and it was amazing but we could tell it was a new batch of people hearing us which is important as well. We like diversity.
Whether in session work or in a band, what words of wisdom can you give to inspiring musicians/bands?
Focus 100% and never let a day go buy w/o doing some for your art/band etc. Fight til death ha!
Favourite city/venue you played in thus far and why?
Hmmmn, Canada is amazing for metal but I would say west coast as I have a lot of friends out there and the metal scene is solid.
And now for some fun, random questions that every musician likes to answer:
If you could have a single guest member on an upcoming album, who would it be and why?
James Hetfield do some vocals on a DW album.
If you had one band/musician you would be honored to share the stage with, who and why?
Metallica as they did help real metal come to the forefront. Master of Puppets broke them wide out and killed a lot of the lame 80's hair metal that was awful.
Covers are always fun to do when your jammin out in the studio or spur of the moment live, any songs in particular you like to play and have fun with or is it all original material?
We do the Entombed song Wolverine Blues and it is a B-side on the new CD. Killer track!
Favourite band/album of 2012 so far (non biased haha)?
DEMON HUNTER. They are so good.
(Confession)
You can check out Shaun' latest project, Dirge Within via their website, Facebook, Myspace or Youtube. Their bio reads as follows:
Forming in 2007 by Shaun Glass and vocalist Jeremy “Jerms” Genske, Dirge Within immediately began their domination of the competitive heavy music scene, making a name for themselves through extensive touring, earning rave reviews from the press and public alike, while hitting the road with metal luminaries like Trivium, Fear Factory, Static X, Devildriver, Whitechapel, Gwar, Kittie, 36 Crazyfists, and Nonpoint, and appearing on the Chicago stop of the 2009 MAYHEM tour.
Following up their acclaimed debut Force Fed Lies, which drew rave reviews in the pages of Revolver, AP, Rocksound and Metal Hammer (UK), and features the singles “Forever The Martyr”, and “Confession”, which became staples on Sirius XM and various hard music radio outlets, and even made their way as playable tracks for the popular video game Rock Band. Dirge issued a three song EP titled Absolution, in August, giving fans a taste of what’s to come from their forthcoming sophomore release.
In stores April 10 via THC/Rocket Science/RED, There Will Be Blood showcases what fans of Dirge Within are already familiar with; powerful grooves, strong hooks and punishing guitar riffs, with an evolved songwriting and technical prowess far beyond its predecessor .
Says vocalist Genske, “The songs are heavier, smarter, and more melodic in parts. Some are even a little slower! There were no rules when we were writing.. at all. No holds barred. Whatever came out, came out. And I think it's gonna make a really good, well-rounded Metal album."
Produced by the band, with Destrophy frontman Ari Mihalopoulos, Blood delivers as promised, with standout tracks like “Memories”, “As We Prey”, “Vultures”, and “There Will Be Blood”, building on the rock solid foundation Dirge has already laid. With the recent addition of drummer Frankie Harchut and guitarist Chuck Wepfer, Blood is set to pick up where their debut left off, as a pummeling slab of melodic, modern Metal.
Dirge will hit the road in Spring to support Blood, and the first single “Memories” has already started to work its way onto Hard Rock playlists throughout the country.
“I’ve seen these guys live and they kill! The new tracks I’ve heard are awesome and will not disappoint!!! HELLYEAH!!” - Vinnie Paul (Hellyeah, Pantera)
Dirge Within currently is:
Jeremy "Jerms" Genske - Vocals | Shaun Glass - Guitar | Frankie Harchut - Drums | Chuck Wepfer - Guitar | Jeff Paulick - Bass
Track listing and preview of the album are listed below:
1. Bloodletting
2. For My Enemies
3. As We Prey
4. Memories
5. Absolution
6. Without You
7. There Will Be Blood
8. A.L.F.
9. Vultures
10. Murder...Savior
11. Apathy
You can purchase their albums at the following links:
There Will be Blood (2012) (Amazon) | Force Fed Lies (2009) (Amazon)
And now for the newest addition of the article! As of July 10th, 2012, Dirge Within dropped their newest music video "Memories":
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