Exploring inner consciousness while embracing vast dualities America’s own WITHERED floats through the ethereal layers bestowing higher states of explorations with their current release. Frontman guitarist Mike Thompson shares the lowdown on the current happenings and to what makes the band a duality unto itself.

Jussi: Just wanted to say hello and hope things are going well with you cats? So far how are things with going with the band as of late?
Mike: Things are pretty excellent right now. We just got home from a tour with NY’s Krallice which was a fantastic trip. It’s been sometime since we’ve toured smaller clubs/bars and was really nice to get back into our comfort zone.

Jussi: Anything new in works or news of WITHERED?
Mike: Well, we’re eager to start writing again. Actually, we’ve already begun. We’re hoping to write several songs that are intended to not be on a new album. We want to write things that are a little more fun to do and without the pressure & stress of writing a new album. So, maybe an EP or some comp tracks will come trickling out of us over the next year. Outside of that, we have an excellent US tour this summer w/ Exhumed, Macabre, & Cephalic Carnage. We can’t wait; it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Jussi: It appears to be that the band is on tour lately promoting music and other such activities, heard you guys are taking a month or so off in between dates. Is there anything that the band is anticipating for their fans as far as new music making ground?
Mike: Well, I guess I sort of already answered that above, LOL. We’ve just began writing again this week and I’ve been riffing a lot at home. So far so good. We are talking about picking from Dualitas but make things a little uglier and take a punk rock approach to this stuff. We’ll likely completely self-record and self-produce this batch of songs. We always do our own demos for the albums and they have a certain nastiness to them that we’d like to share with our fans.

Jussi: Some interesting information about the band that the average listener fan does not know about you guys?
Mike: Hmmmm, that’s tough. Well, every member of WITHERED is left handed though we all play our instruments in the right handed position. I’ve always thought that was interesting since it was definitely not by design. It’s just a coincidence that I think allows us to connect better and share perspectives more closely. Maybe it’s neurological thing.

Jussi: Dualitas, is an interesting yet intricate record that touches old school black metal European vibes that is obvious throughout the record, was this something that the band wanted to convey sound wise? (Considering that the record does not have replicated sound like most bands out there today)
Mike: Yeah, I mean we’ve always considered ourselves a “black metal” band in loose terms. But, since we’re not European and enjoy the full offering of extreme music (and other styles), I think our take on it may not always reveal the black metal influence behind it. Many riffs are originally written to be black metal riffs but, very often, once the entire band digests a riff and we work on it from every possible angle, we always settle on what we enjoy the most whether it ultimately has black metal styling or not. The vibe and atmosphere is the top priority, not fitting into one particular style or genre.

Jussi: Considering that that WITHERED has been together for almost a decade has the group changed in sound if any throughout these years despite changes in line up, etc? Most bands would agree to this to a certain extent.
Mike: I hope so. My vision with any project is for it to continually grow and explore new avenues. If we just wrote the same type of song every time, I would get very bored and loose motivation. So, we try to incorporate something unique each time around without a complete departure. It’s important to still sound like WITHERED in general. It can be quite the balancing act sometimes.

Jussi: How long did it take to record Dualitas? Was there anything musically or etc.. that the band wished to add to or take away from this? Or are you satisfied with the ending result?
Mike: Dualitas was recorded and mixed in 14-16 days I believe. I am truly 99% satisfied with it. The 1% would be things that most would not understand or may not hear for themselves. I think it’s just because we work on these songs for so long before going to the studio so it becomes very fine tuned and I always develop a very specific vision for each song. In the studio, things will evolve a little or we may overlook one very small detail that is remembered long after we’re finished. But, that’s part of the experience and the artistic process. I still would not want to change these little things because it’s part of how the album(s) represent who we were at that moment in time. Plus, I rarely see the point in regret.

Jussi: Would like to know what axe’s you grind with and what other equipment that you used in the creation for this musical masterpiece. Just asking because Dualitas has that pending vicious guitar ambiance.
Mike: Oh, I’m 100% a Gibson Les Paul man. I love them so much. Dylan plays Dean Flying V’s. They were actually passed onto him from our previous guitarist Chris. But, they fit him very well and he likes them a lot. They are nice guitars. Outside of that, we use EVH amplification live and in the studio however, we played around with several tones from several amp/pedal combinations and layered them together to get what we want on the album. Everything from a very mild crunchy tone (courtesy of an orange amp) to full on muddy nastiness (courtesy of our EVH amp, Peavey, & some secret weapons!). Ultimately, I try to accomplish a blend between the classic sunlight studios tone (early entombed) and a black metal frailty to achieve the atmospheric qualities we need. We also all run a lot of reverb on many parts.

Jussi: Are there any aspects about technology that you think or feel that has contributed to the bands publicity, music etc?
Mike: Well, I guess the general technologies available these days have helped though we basically accomplished our key milestones through old school methods. I’m grateful we had computers so I could burn our first demo and email to book tours and contact people for demo submissions. But, all in all it’s been mostly traditional. You know, go on tour with a demo and hope someone cool likes it. Luckily, several people did and we were on our way a year later with our signing to Lifeforce. They did the rest by making the media aware of us. I’m grateful for that.

Jussi: Reading on some different reflections about the lyrical content of Dualitas, there seems to be almost a philosophical/new age view point behind this record. Was this subject interjected in the song writing process that in someway served as an inspiration lyrically to a certain degree?
Mike: Yes, indeed. I mean, we do like to maintain a general attitude to all of our music. We constantly strive for what you might call a “liberating helplessness” type of mood on our records. And, all the lyrical concepts are usually in line with this perspective anyway. That’s just how I/we approach music in general. It does usually start with a general mood for the song we’re writing and everything builds upon that. I then create several basic concepts that are just one or two sentences each. Then we pick from those concepts and mate them to the song that establishes the most appropriate mood for the subject matter.

Jussi: Probing the deeper recesses of this record there was mention that Dualitas is a record is about challenges of the self in exploration of perspectives. This subject is an in-depth interest of mine and I would like to get your sense of being into this, since this concept is what makes the record an interesting one. Do you think that delving into other broader mind expansions and or explorations, concepts (ideas/ideals) that these mental openings-open a third eye of creative input for lyrical content/music?
Mike: I’d be a fool to think it doesn’t have a significant impact on my contributions to our music. I’ve developed a lust for spiritual knowledge, especially in the last several years. Musically, we try to leave no stone unturned. In other words, we’ll take one basic riff idea and explore using it in every possible style (fast, slow, mid-paced, atmospheric, single notes, full chords, grinding, whatever). Just because I think that you are compromising so much potential in the creative process by latching onto the first or second idea. This causes us to take a bit longer to write but it’s very worthwhile. I also apply this philosophy to life. I try to consider every perspective from anyone affected by my decisions and even consider unrealistic or illogical perspectives for the sake of mental exercise. This is all for the same basic reason. As I create my reality and my life unfolds, a multi-dimensional outlook really makes for a much richer life experience and allows me to relate to others much more closely. This creates stronger bonds in life and helps me really define my boundaries as well since I can clearly see each side of a concept or situation. I try to stay focused on the big picture and the end result of something. There’s no point in wasting thought and energy on semantics.

Jussi: Do you think WITHERED has a deeper message to convey in a broader minded sense that some bands don’t even touch upon? If yes, how so?
Mike: Well, that’s pretty broad but yeah, I think so. I mean, we are developing a mythos of sorts, a way to define our contribution and put our stamp on this world/reality. There are bands that just focus on image or are just having a great time, like a party, when playing. So, they sing about sex, or drugs, or whatever. There’s nothing wrong with that. WITHERED is just very personal for me and is almost a religion of sorts for me. Playing with WITHERED is very fulfilling and our live shows are very rewarding exercises of projection for me. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

Jussi: Anything that the band is looking forward to for the rest of this year and 2012?
Mike: Definitely. We have some awesome touring lined up and can’t wait to write and record this new material.

Jussi: Most odd or different experiences while recording or on tour?
Mike: Wow, that’s a long list. I could probably write a book. But, most things worth mentioning are only tour related. Recording is just laid back and very focused. We lock ourselves in the studio for the entire session and try to shut off the outside world. Oh man, on tour, there’s been so many fantastic, terrifying, and incredible experiences. From watching Watain kill pigeons in a parking lot and decapitating them by hand to having Glen Danzig personally deliver doughnuts to our tour bus to even just playing for 2,000 people in a giant theater, there are dozens if not hundreds of very surreal experience. That’s why we love touring so much. It forces you out of your comfort zone. You can either fight it every step of the way or just embrace the chaos and enjoy the roller coaster ride. I welcome any new life experience. It’s just so valuable to me and always enriches my outlook on life.

Jussi: Describe a day in the life of WITHERED? Inquiry minds want to know?
Mike: Well, generally it’s pretty boring. We all work jobs and pay bills like most people. We rehearse a couple times a week, even if we don’t have to because we enjoy being a part of this I think. And, we just wait for the next tour or recording session. We like beer and awesome food. Also enjoy going to local shows and watching our friends’ bands play. We don’t celebrate Satan or anything like that outside of ourselves and our lives.

Jussi: Nocturnal Hall.com would like to thank you for taking the time out for this interview along with much success to WITHERED and would like to thank Prosethic Records for this opportunity.
Mike: Thanks so much for the support. And thanks for the interesting questions. I appreciate the challenge of having to think about my answers. See everyone out on the road!!

5/2011© Jussi Gough • Withered •