UN: I was curious to ask how Deadsea first came together. Was there a concrete idea that the band was going to be diverse and not fall into the usual clichs and close mindedness of a typical metal band? Did the band come together as you initially imagined?

Adam: Yes to all. In the beginning I had begun writing a plethora of songs that became the first few chapters of Deadsea music. I had spent the last 12 previous years or so playing and composing many different styles of music. Mostly jazz oriented and film music. But I really wanted to get back into writing songs with lyrics and then base the arrangements of the music around them. There is nothing more picturesque or emotive than a killer metal lyric. I also wanted to hear & play metal music again but with arrangements that I liked. Metal is also a very physical music. At least it should be. Metal provokes certain things I like that no other music can.

Also, I really wanted to make music with Alex. I have known Alex for many years prior to Deadsea and have always admired his immense talent and his very unique and quality avant-garde style. Also, I feel it is important to play this kind of music with someone you feel a sense of brotherhood with. For me, thats Alex. We've always had a strong connectedness with certain directions in music. Especially music that is intense. Now, after spending the last 2 years playing tons of music Jeremy, his ability on the kit, his passion for Music and Metal, his personality, and his friendship has made it all come together.

Alex: We started jamming in 2002 and recorded our first demo that winter. There was always initiative to push the envelope and test new directions in music. Adam and I had been buddies for some years back and we wanted to create a bastard child of our influences and aspirations in music.

UN: How has the response to the self-titled album been so far? Are you guys pleased with how the album is being perceived, not only by critics, but by the fans as well?

Alex: There has been a great response to the new album, both from critics and fans alike. Obviously not every review is going to give you a gold star, and there have been a few. This is healthy though. I would think we are doing something wrong if it only got praises. The thing to note is that nearly all of the reviews that are coming back are very cognizant of the seamless blending of styles on the new disc, something not uncommon on previous releases.

The biggest request from people at shows is if and/or when it (the new album) will get pressed on vinyl which tickles the hell outta us cuz we are all vinyl freaks.

UN: Did you approach your latest self-titled album any different than you did Desiderata? Was there anything in particular you wanted to do differently with this album songwriting wise?

Adam: On Desiderata, Every song was ultra-epic and was there to project the subject matter in those lyrics and landscapes of the music at that time. The new record has Jeremy coming forth in the music and I wanted the songs to set him and Alex up well. Lyrically, I wanted to go some other directions which pushed me to do more as a vocalist and that only spawns more destructive things to do to the guitar. I feel this is a stronger trio and I wanted the song-shapes to set everyone up for a good ride, especially the listener.

UN: Does the band have a particular way of approaching songwriting? Do you guys bang out ideas together or does each member bring in their own ideas and the band puts them together? Does every band member have a hand in the songwriting department?

Adam: I would say all of the above. We have many different ways of approaching writing & arranging songs. Sometimes one of us will heavily orchestrate each others parts and other times we all just do what naturally comes. We also take turns re-arranging sections or whole songs. If someone is amped to try or change something. We just focus on that and do it. One way that we have been able to develop this approach from song to song is that we change the arrangements to our existing songs for our live shows many times nightly. If there is one thing that is constant in our music, is that the risk factor should always stay very high. It forces us to always be aware of what's going on and keeps us on the edge. By inflicting improvisation in the songs or maybe adding an idea we might've had in the van on the way to the gig, we eliminate a comfort zone that allows for more intensity.

Alex: The core of Deadsea is (a) metal (band) and from that umbrella we all have our own visions. Sometimes one person carries that weight and at other times we meet at the surgery table to dissect and reconstruct those visions.

Jeremy: At different times in Deadsea, everyone can take the lead in the arrangements of the music, other songs are more of a singular vision. As an example, Adam suggested that I write the linear section coming out of the guitar solo in Vampyres Kiss, and that's how it was born.

UN: The self-titled album is ridiculously varied. Is it safe to assume that pretty much anything goes within the Deadsea sound? Is any idea no matter how strange worked into the songs or at least attempted to be?

Adam: We just basically play what inspires us. No matter what style we infuse, we like things to envelope well.

Alex: Agreed (with what Smith said). We don't have a formula for songs. Some are entirely through composed with the utmost precision whereas others are designed to polymorph with every performance.

UN: The album is laid out in a way that the heavier side of the band is on display for the first part of the album and the more somber and epic songs are at the end of the album. Did it just make more sense to keep the 16 minutes songs somewhat separate from the shorter and more aggressive songs on display earlier on the album?

Adam: It was an arrangement that felt natural for those songs and the way the record was produced. We just felt it moved nice as an album that way.

Alex: Frozen Rivers and The Morning Frost did not flow amidst the songs on the beginning of the album. We deliberately controlled the flow of the album, even if it meant putting the two longest songs next to each other. It seems like a lot to aurally digest but when you get done listening to it, you don't realize 25 minutes have passed.

UN: Currently you guys are releasing albums on your own Chrome Leaf Records run by a member of the band. How is the label hunting coming? There must be labels out there interested in working with the band. They would be crazy otherwise.

Alex: There is a lot of satisfaction being able to release your own record. It retains the DIY spirit I grew up with and in many ways it has helped us as a band. We have met a lot of people we would normally not have if someone else had the reigns. That being said, we are at the point of shopping around the album in hopes of sparking interest in the band, beyond what we could realistically achieve.

UN: Touring is on the agenda for this year it seems for the band. Will this be the most the band has been on the road yet? Are you guys going to try and play as many shows as humanly possible to spread the word about Deadsea?

Alex: Earsplit has been doing a great job of getting the album out there in the public eye and we plan on supporting that momentum by hitting the road as much as we can this year. For the first time we are planning on hitting the West Coast for a series of shows in addition to the slew of shows we have mapped our for spring and summer of 08 in the Midwest and East Coast. Pardon the global warming pun but we plan for 2008 to be the year Deadsea rises beyond its shores and floods the universe.

UN: In a live setting do you mainly stick to the more straightforward songs or do you tackle the epic songs as well? Im assuming the nature of the set might be reflected by the amount of stage time the band has. Im sure if it is an opening slot you wouldnt play your 16 minute songs.

Adam: It really depends on the vibe of the crowd and the band. We change it every night. Weve played 10 song sets and 1 song sets. We're always stoked to mix it up and see what happens. Whats most important is the energy of the show. We usually make those decisions right before we play. The longer the songs, the more fog we use.

Alex: We played CMJ in 2006 two nights in a row and played completely different sets each night. People in attendance at each of those shows strongly commented to us how stoked they were to hear the versatility between nights.

Do you consider the music of Deadsea to be progressive? When a lot of people think of progressive metal they think of soaring vocals and ridiculously long guitar solos. I think the band has a unique sense of being progressive and is much more experimental than the average metal band.

Alex: Progressive in the sense of forward thinking. Experimental in content. We try and play live with a variety of bands, not just metal bands. There is, to me, a crossover not necessarily in sound but in regards to intent that a lot of bands we enjoy performing with share. This to me makes Deadsea progressive.

Jeremy: I feel that our music is very progressive, in a literal sense more than in style or genre. To progress in music to me is to play music free of particular styles, to do things the listener wont expect, while keeping them interested. How technical your music is or which instruments you choose to play it on doesn't make it progressive.

Adam: Thank You, We're a lot of different things. I guess above all, we are a band that plays as hard as we can. Metal to us is going out and playing till you drop. We love to freak out live and we fucking love music. We don't waste a bunch of time wondering or conversing about style. We're going for impact within the music while having a good time doing it. It's really as simple as that for us.

Thank you for taking the time. Please visit our myspace page for the most current sounds and live information. The new cd, as well as our 4 song lp limited to 500 copies, can be ordered there as well as the label site. You can also find it at Relapse records, Robotic Empire, The End records and Aquarius records.

Official Deadsea Myspace
Chrome Leaf Records