DEANE CRESCENT

WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/deanecrescent
COUNTRY: South Africa STYLE: Progressive / Grindcore / Death Metal

LISTENING TO THE TWO SONGS POSTED ON YOUR MYSPACE, IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT THE “BRUTALITY” OF THE SONGS IS OF THE CHARTS, BUT IS THERE MORE TO EXTREME METAL THAN SOUNDING BRUTAL?

The brutal impact of the songs was a natural thing as in we did not try and make the most brutal songs in life, we just made songs that we thought sounded good and the sound of the band basically just happened. On the note of extreme metal it is difficult to get all the elements of the band to sound groovy together when playing on the more extreme side of things, so the challenge is to be groovy whilst being heavy, as opposed to playing just ‘noise’.

Another point to add regarding Deane Crescent’s music is that when we write, we don’t write to be technical, we rather aim for intensity. I've seen guys who shred their instruments all day on stage and eventually it looses its appeal and becomes boring, when you see us on stage, or hear our Album, we want you to be captivated by the feeling of the music rather than judging our levels of skill, or vocal range.

FOR A BAND THAT HAS ONE GUITARIST YOU REALLY PACK A MEAN PUNCH, HOW HAS YOUR “SOUND” DEVELOPED SINCE THE BAND STARTED IN 2007?

Being in a band with one guitarist, we are forced to write in a way that we can maintain a full hard hitting sound, while still bringing across intensity. It’s not an easy challenge but everyone in the band is not afraid to admit if something sounds thin or weak, then we just have to go back and rework the section so make sure the energy comes through.

WHAT GUITAR TUNINGS AND GEAR DO YOU USE AND AFTER RELEASING THE “BLACK WE TURN E.P.” ARE YOU GUYS PLANNING TO HEAD INTO THE STUDIO AGAIN ANY TIME SOON?

We actually recorded “Black We Turn” in dropped C, but now we play in dropped B. The reason for the change was because our new material we are working on sounds much better in the lower tuning. Gear wise Mutt and Mike are endorsed by Dean Guitars, Mutt’s got a Dave Mustaine Signature VMNT and Mike’s got a Pro Edge 5. Mutt is opening his own studio in the very near future and we will be working on our new full length album, hopefully to be released later in the year. Be prepared for a few surprises on this one!

DO YOU FIND THAT WHEN WRITING SONGS THAT THE IDEAS JUST COME OUT WHEN YOU START WRITING OR IS EVERYTHING PLANNED OUT AND MORE OF A PROCESS?

The concept of the song is pre-planned but many twists and turns take place once the basic structure is complete. Vocals are done last in the process and many drafts are sometimes needed due to the different tastes in the band currently. So you could say that the idea of the song is planned, but the final product is born through trial and error.

THERE ARE SO MANY LOCAL BANDS THAT USE “SCREAMERS” THESE DAYS. WHAT MAKES GUTTURAL VOCALS SO HARD TO MASTER IN YOUR OPINION?

PAUL: I personally think that all vocalists have a unique sound to their voice although you do get some that sound the same, the key is to be your 'own bands' vocalist and relate the vocals to the music you are playing.

As for range and pitch and things I believe that most of it is innate and genetic and certain vocalists are born to do 'inward' or 'outward' depending on their throat structure and so forth. I write and perform vocals in the style I and my band like and enjoy, and I think this is how any vocalist should operate.

I SEE YOU GUYS HAVE DIFFERENT DEANE CRESCENT LOGOS ON YOUR MYSPACE AND FACEBOOK PAGES, SO WHICH ONE IS THE “OFFICIAL NEW LOOK” LOGO AND IN YOUR OPINION WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE “IMAGE” OF EXTREME MUSIC IN SOUTH AFRICA?

The new one is the one on the Myspace, we changed it just because we thought it looked better and was more original… The scene is actually very good in SA and the image of extreme music is only misinterpreted by people who have never experienced it before.

If all the people (bands and fans as well as organisers) work together to grow the underground scene and bring new fans into the scene we could have a self sustaining and ever expanding metal scene in South Africa.

Also it is a bad habit to undermine local talent, just because bands are not international does not mean they don't deserve to be looked up to and supported in the same light. For example an American band can grow huge in USA and get praised just like we see on Youtube and Myspace and the American kids also support non-USA bands in the same light.

Why is it most SA people only put in extra effort and support for international acts when they come over here, instead of helping our local guys who can give the international scene stiff competition and can earn a place in the global metal scene.

DOES PLAYING EXTREME METAL AUTOMATICALLY MAKE YOU AN ANGRY PERSON AS THE MEDIA WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE, AND HOW MUCH OF YOUR OWN PERSONALITIES CAN BE FOUND IN YOUR SONGS?

It is true that anger is relayed and reflected in the songs we write but that is where the frustration and anger stays, in the song. The songs are not about happy things, but rather about things that people cannot express literally in the real world, it gives listeners a place to go to vent and relieve their frustration without hurting themselves or others.

Metalheads are the most docile people you can meet and genuine friendships are constantly forming within the scene, a far cry from angry solitary antisocial people. As for the band, we are just normal guys who write music that we enjoy and that gets us excited and we love all the people in the metal scene.

I SEE YOU GUYS GIG ON A REGULAR BASIS; IS IT IMPORTANT TO STAY CONSISTENT AND PLAY REGULARLY RATHER THAN PLAYING AND THEN NOT PERFORMING FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEN PLAYING AGAIN?

Consistency is important as it helps to keep pushing the limits of your performance, and to spread your music to as many people as possible. There is nothing better then sharing your own music with different people. Gigging too often is unproductive though, so it is a fine balance.

YOUR SONGS ARE VERY TECHNICAL; WAS IT HARD TO FIND A GOOD REPLACEMENT WHEN MATT WEST (DRUMMER '07 – MID '08) LEFT THE BAND LAST YEAR?

It was difficult but luckily we knew Nikola already, it is difficult to find a good drummer who has passion and commitment. We were very lucky.

I SEE YOU GUYS ARE HEADING TO DURBAN IN MAY, IS IT GOOD TO GET OUT OF JOHANNESBURG EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND UNLEASH YOUR BRAND OF METAL ONTO A WHOLE NEW AUDIENCE?

It's awesome, we had a great response last time we were in Durban and we are hoping for much of the same at the White Knuckle Blackout Fest ’09. As said earlier it is always great to play to new people and share your material. We are also heading down to Cape Town later in May for Deathfest Cape Town which we are looking forward to as we have never played in Cape Town before.

ANY OTHER SHOWS YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO AND PLANNING FOR LATER IN THE YEAR?

Yeah, we just finished Season’s Wither which was amazing, and now we are preparing ourselves for May, which is going to hectic! As mentioned before we are down in Durban for White Knuckle Blackout Fest ’09 this weekend, then back in JHB for Deathfest at Tempo’s, then CT the following weekend for DeathFest at Klein Liberta’s, back to JHB for a support show with The Dead Will Tell, Facing the Gallows for DBN band Show and Tell, then finishing with a bang at Headbangers Bash on the 30th. All these shows promise to be insane so we all looking forward to this month.

YOU GUYS WERE SUPPOSED TO PLAY WITH NILE AND DEVILDRIVER ON THEIR SA TOURS BUT THEY BOTH CANCELLED AND POSTPONED. ARE YOU GUYS AT LEAST IMPRESSED THAT YOU WERE SELECTED TO PLAY WITH BOTH BANDS?

We were honoured and were beyond upset when not only Nile was cancelled, but DevilDriver as well. A real blow to the morale of the band but that's life hey, got to keep going as there are always new opportunities ahead.

ANY LAST COMMENTS / ADVICE OR PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK?

Firstly, thanks to you for this interview, it’s been fun, thanks to Thornrose Music, and all our homies from all the bands (and those who aren’t in bands) we hang with at shows ;)

To all the organisers of the amazing shows we have had a privilege of playing, they have been amazing and turnouts have been rising which is great. Thanks to all the crazy kids at the show that always walk up to us bleeding after the show, you help us appreciate what we do and remind us why we do it!