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by Chris Barnes
July 22nd, 2006  If you are a fan of Orange-amplified, crusty, blackened, dismal sludgecore, you really have to experience Graves At Sea. Forged under the scorching Arizona sun, their propensity for turgid, athrogenic riffage and Nathan Misterek’s brimstone-scorched incantations is not unlike a self-guided tour into the Ninth Circle. Hellride speaks to bassist Roger Willams and guitarist Nick Phit on their unique approach to composing dark music, their upcoming album and much more. Hellride Music: You know, it’s nice to see that the 20 Buck Spin label re-issued your self-financed first CD Documents of Grief. There was a good buzz around that debut - illicit buzzes and otherwise. Give us the history behind Graves At Sea to date? Roger Williams: Graves At Sea began in 2003. We had all been in previous bands (except Nathan (Misterek, vocals) and had been trying to find our counterparts for musical expression. It was Nick (Phit, guitars) and I who began the process of writing and solidifying the group. Of course, there was the drummer issues in the beginning (aren’t there always), and Nick had Nathan in mind from the inception.
We self released (20 Buck Spin re’released) the Documents Of Grief EP in 2003. Following that release we were asked to record a 7" on Southern Lord records. We also did a split on the Life is Abuse label with the band [url= www.asunder.info]Asunder[/i].
Currently, we are working on a full length release. Hopefully, releasing it later this year, but it’s just how every thing goes in our world… SLOW. Hellride Music: You guys create some monstrously heavy and unmercifully bleak material. I always want to know what are the thoughts, emotions and creative processes behind the music. From the sounds of it, all you fuckers are dark-minded, narcotic-abusing nihilists of the 10th degree. Take us behind the music - what is the catalyst to create music like you do? Nick Phit:  Surroundings and past lessons. You surround yourself with people or things that inspire you. If it’s not a muse in some way, you get rid it. Through whatever means. Writing darker music means you have to listen to dark music. No set style, just anything that’s good. There’s more shit out there than good stuff. But there’s a lot of good stuff. Also good books. Nothing inspiring like a good book. Roger: It just seems that the state of the world today is a very bleak place. One doesn’t have to look to hard or far to find some sort of fucked up scenario that infiltrates and influences our lives on a daily basis. Narcotics might help with the mundane way of life that is hard to escape in the Arizona desert. Nothing happens to fast around here. The sun scorches. Life comes to a crawl, thus the music follows. Hellride Music: Makes sense. After you guys rehearse or play out, does sheer darkness and weight of the music stick with you? Or is it a case of when you play you get all the black crap out of your system and then you can go on to have a bright, cheery day? Nick: Well, we’re not assholes, but I wouldn’t say we’re happy-go- lucky people. Our attitude changes so drastically sometimes. Can’t really help it. Just something will spark a memory your trying to get rid of, or something like that. So I guess it never really "leaves" us, no. Roger: It never really leaves. You can release some of the pressure. I, personally, get very exhausted from playing. Whether it being the energy that has to be expelled, or the sheer volume that creates a vaccuum and sucks the energy out of me. But, that being said, I try to be as positive as I can. Hellride Music: Any particular bands from the past or present influence you guys? How about the lyrically? The Absinthe tune - where did that come from? Any delvings into the occult by any of you?
Nick: Musically, groups like Sourvein, Noothgrush, Grief, etc. But also stuff like Amebix and El Dopa. I don’t know. I listen to so much stuff and draw influence off it. Shit, one time I wrote a riff after listening to Current 93. It’s just like that. Making music art. Matt Pike always makes me wanna take a riff a little further than I probably would have. Roger: Delvings in the occult? We come from Hell (Arizona) Hellride Music: You have a point. It must be hotter than a mutha out there right now. You guys have a new album coming up - tell us about that and how does it compare in all aspects with Documents of Grief? Nick:  Documents of Grief was the first four songs we ever wrote as a band. The new album will be leaps and bounds different. We have grown as a band. The sound is still there, but it’s more thought out. Roger: I think that now we have been playing music with each other long enough to really feel where the others are going. We have definitely grown as a band. I think we will be able to expand more on various influences, but still keep the essence that has brought us this far. Hellride Music: Arizona is one place you don’t hear much about when it comes to music, except for the SHoD fests. What’s the scene like out there? Anyone in particular we should look out for? Nick: Ummmm.... Black Hell, Landmine Marathon, Survile
Sun....There’s a band that’s just about to start getting their feet wet called Starved. Other than that, the scene kinda lacks. It’s not anyone’s fault really. It’s just that AZ is so spread out and it’s tough to get around. Roger: The scene here is very trendy. It seems that whatever the "IN" thing might be, there are hundreds trying to get on the bandwagon. This hurts the scene, because most bands aren’t doing what they totally love, thus when the style goes so does the band. People want instant gratification. Not to mention that Phoenix is a huge sprawling metropolis and there is only a handful of clubs to play, plus a Lack of all ages clubs. People on one side of the valley won’t go across town to see bands. Lack of public transportation hurts too. Hellride Music: So…what are you guys currently listening too? Nick: Same as always: Swans, Ruhr Hunter, Winter, Beneath the Lake, Christian Death, Bohren un Der Club of Gore, Earth’s Hex… album, Arcana, Sol Invictus, Xasther, Desiderii Marginis, Burning Witch, etc. Roger: I’m actually listening to all of the new cd’s I was givin from the bands on the last tour. Deadbird, Rue, Unearthly Trance, Village Of Dead Roads, Grey, Baroness, Rwake, Weedeater, Soilent Green, etc.... Hellride Music: Hey Nick and Roger, many thanks for the interview. Leave us with some last words, would you? Roger: I just want to thank everyone for their support. Without them the music falls on deaf ears. The people related to or involved in the scene have been great to us. We are very lucky to have the people accept us ans we do appreciate it. THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!! If your not Diehard your dead
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