ALRIGHT, NAME FIVE VEHEMENTLY ANTI-CHRISTIAN DEATH METAL BANDS. . .YOU CAN'T? THAT'S OKAY. NEITHER CAN HAILNDKILL.
BUT THE NEXT TIME YOU TRY, INCLUDE HIS NAME IN VAIN. A ONE MAN OPERATION THAT'S INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED ITS DEBUT
LAST YEAR, 'ALL MUST END'. THE BRAINS BEHIND THE WHOLE ENTERPRISE IS THIS TALENTED GUY NAMED DAVE (FEEL FREE TO
CALL HIM DWB); HAVING JOINED THE ARMY A DECADE AGO TO PICK HIMSELF UP FROM A LIFE GOING DOWNHILL, A MOVE THAT
EVENTUALLY BROUGHT HIM A COUPLE OF TOURS IN IRAQ, HE REFINED HIS MUSICIANSHIP WHILE SERVING IN THAT CURSED PLACE
AND EMERGED A VERY ANGRY MAN (HAILNDKILL IS OBVIOUSLY EXAGGERATING). ONCE BACK IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD HE BEGAN TO
SERIOUSLY PURSUE A LIFELONG PASSION AND THE END RESULT IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE. THESE DAYS HE'S KEPT BUSY WITH PUSHING
A MUSIC CAREER THAT'S WAGING WAR ON ORGANIZED RELIGION. LET THE ANNIHILATION COMMENCE . . .

 

 

 

Your self released 'All Must End' last year. How much work did you put into your first album?
Well, the copyright went through last year but it wasn't really finished until February of this year. I actually started writing this album in the fall of 2005. I was so picky and particular that it took until now to finish. So many takes to get it just right.

 According to your website you've had previous material you never released because of the quality. On your first album the production is quite impressive. What steps did you take to guarantee that your music gets the quality it deserves given your independent status as a musician and any budget constraints?
Step 1: Work really hard and learn as much as you can about mixing and mastering.
Step 2: Beat your head against the wall 'cause it's taking forever to get it the way you want, Ha! I went through so many CD-R's to sample listen I could have filled a warehouse. The previous material was great music and I'm most likely going to rehash a lot of it into newer stuff. But yeah, I didn't know enough about sound and levels to have it recorded well enough for me to release. Budgeting wasn't bad because if you're single and you get deployed you make a lot of money.

 Is it just you on all the instruments or are there session musicians who helped you during the recording?
Nope, just me. The drums are programmed, I'll admit, but I spent a lot of time on every single hit to make them sound as real as possible. I still get questioned if they are real or not so I'm happy with the outcome. You can never replace real drumming or a great drummer. I also did the vocals myself which nearly killed me, haha . . . I could never do them live and I had to boost the volume up a bit to really make them intense. There are no effects but I did do two tracks for highs and lows and just to keep them thick, you know?

Do you plan on getting a full-fledged band to back you up and join you on tour?
Ah, that's a thought that never leaves my mind. I would really like to. I'm not active duty military anymore but I'm PA National Guard until November. You wouldn't believe how that can really hinder one's time. (One weekend a month, two weeks a year my ass.) I get a good amount of e-mails asking if I need a drummer, or another guitarist or bassist, even offers to play in other bands. If I was to ever be in a band again though, it would be this project, and I'm seriously considering it.

 Have you done shows around your area or out-of-town? How has the reception been so far?

 No, I can't play shows as a one-man band (that would be nuts though!). The reception has been great as far as comments on the music, however album sales are low . . . Such is life. I just need better techniques on promoting 'His Name In Vain' I suppose. Whether I sell one copy or 1,000, I just wanted to go the distance and put a full-length album out there with all the trimmings. It's more than what was done when I was in a band with other members.

It says in your biography that most of the lyrics were written while you were serving in Iraq. Did composing music really help you cope with your surroundings there?

 Actually, the lyrics were written here, after I was back and out from active duty. However, most of the music was written in Iraq and yeah, it was a great way to smooth out a long year. I think the intense environment really helped make it powerful. The first deployment during the war happened so quickly I couldn't really bring any equipment. I bought a guitar online halfway through that one. The second deployment I went all out and brought two guitars, a bass, recording equipment, a drum machine, and amps. Ha, they thought I was crazy for doing so, but I was the only one never bored.

Do you consider yourself passionately anti-Christian?

Absolutely. Religion is destroying the world. There is no God and there is no Devil. There is no heaven or hell. Satan is merely a representation of one's empowerment and the realization you are your own god. Nothing can stop you with that mentality. As a Satanist, I totally indulge in that. A fellow soldier with 'Catholic' on his dog tags as his religion once asked me why I don't push to have 'Satanist' put on mine and I told him true Satanism is not a religion so it would be irrelevant. Satanist and 'devil worshiper' are two different things.

Why did you become involved with the military and how do you look upon your service in such an institution? Are you proud of that part of your life?

I hit some bad times in the late 90's and early 2000 like homelessness and dead end jobs. I needed a good
foundation to get me back on my feet and a solid new start, and I knew I could do it. I joined before 9/11, so I wasn't trying to be a commando. Sure, I'm proud of it in a way. If you didn't have any discipline before, you would afterwards. Seen some crazy shit most never will, but I didn't join because I wanted to 'Be all I could be'. Ha! From the training to going off to war, what was it like being a member of history's most lethal fighting force? It's definitely been an experience and I wouldn't be here today without it. I have no regrets, but I've also had my fill and it's time for me to be a civilian again.

You served two tours in Iraq. Do you believe in the cause your country is fighting to uphold in that part of the world?

Actually no, and from what I've seen, I think were making no difference. Shouldn't have been there in the first place. It's all politics.

Would you have any idea how many-or what percentage of people serving in the armed forces are into metal?

Not nearly enough. If you mean Metal in general, like even the mainstream stuff, then there's a bunch. If you mean real Death or Black Metal I can count those I've met on one hand. I've met some that didn't even know it existed until they met me and looked at my CD collection.

What were some of the things you experienced during your tours that was never reported on the news or heard about by the general public?

Actually I've never experienced or heard of anything that was withheld from the public. The military doesn't do too
badly when taking care of its soldiers. In fact, when the war started in 2003 the press blew it outta proportion to where my family thought I was hurdling land mines when I was really playing Playstation waiting to leave Kuwait and enter Iraq.
 
How many people did you kill?

I have no confirmed kills. I had to return fire when our convoys were shot at (the first deployment) and I don't know exactly where those rounds went. I didn't fire at all other than at ranges during the second deployment. I was aviation though and worked on attack helicopters. They did all the blowing up. I wasn't infantry. Those guys did all the hands on killing.

Is Iraq winnable?

Iraq is like a beaten stepchild. You can try to help, but it'll never be right. Too many fanatics with bullshit
beliefs. Just another example of how religion is killing the world, not that crooked politics are doing any better.

 Check out the dude's music at this location: www.myspace.com/dwbinvain 

How strong is your foundation in Death Metal? When were you first introduced to the genre and which albums have impacted you the most?

I'm not really nostalgic when it comes to music like most artists usually are. I love the current direction great Death Metal is going and that's what is really influencing me, and I guess it always has. I got into Death Metal during the classic times, the mid 80's, when Death was spawned and a friend handed me 'Leprosy'. I was like 'Wow!' Then I discovered other greats like Obituary, Suffocation, and hailed Deicide greatly back then. I was in a number of bands but none were really Death Metal. They were either Thrash or Hardcore based. During the 90's Philadelphia was seriously lacking any Death Metal (and still is, even though there's still some keeping the torch lit) and band pickings were slim. That's why 'His Name In Vain' will always be solid in its style.

Isn't the guitar you're using the same as that dude's from Nile?

Yeah, when I first saw the video for 'Sacrifice unto Sebek' I was like "What the hell is he playing?!' and tracked it down to KXK Guitars and checked out the website. I had only two months until I got deployed again and swore I would get one when I got back. I ordered one in August of 06' and it took 9 months because they never made a left-handed one. It's literally the first of its kind and it doesn't just look great, it sounds awesome! I only got to do the leads on the album with it though. Everything else was recorded by the time I got it. I used my Jackson V for the rhythm tracks, also custom made.

How long have you been playing music?

I started on bass when I was 19. I guess, for 16 years now.

Is His Name In Vain your life's work?

The name is relatively new but final now. I was hashing some around to find out others I wanted were taken. I'd say the project and the music itself has been developing since 2000.

Are you ready for the long haul when it comes to your music career?

That's a hard question to answer just yet. I guess time will tell that one. I ain't going down without a fight though.

 
Who would you vote president and what would you want done to Iraq by your next elected leader?

Anyone but Clinton. That's got bad mojo written all over it. And as much as I'd love to see every soldier come home as soon as possible, safe like I did, I'm afraid we started something that we can't stop just like that. It would have dire consequences in the long run. Bush really screwed us by invading that country 'cause if we leave now, they'll regroup, rebuild, and have a greater chance at hitting us harder than ever.

How many of your goals for His Name in Vain have been achieved so far? What's next?

I've actually exceeded most of them, but that just makes me create new ones like considering incorporating other members, playing shows, and stuff like that . . . Thanks for taking the time to get more insight on me and my music. Stay Metal!

 Check out this dude's music at: www.myspace.com/dwbinvain

 STAY HEAVY

 
by HailndKill     Added on May 28, 2008