San Francisco’s Deafheaven have earned the reputation of a band tapping into the aesthetic of black metal while receiving some amount of disrespect from some “purists” of the genre. Their second album, 2013’s Sunbather came emblazoned in the lurid wrapping of a peach-coloured sky and for some synaesthetic reason, the presentation infiltrated the perception of the record. What were once epic slabs of darkness or white noise in the language of metal became furious fields of hot reds, pinks and oranges and the deep field of guitar noise contextualized itself as My Bloody Valentine rather than Burzum, where colour became as overpowering as the lack of it.
But while a minority of aficionados and anonymous internet commenters (e.g. “So is this hipster black metal? Varg, please come down and slaughter these people for me.” ) may have turned their noses up at a founder members George Clarke and Kerry McCoy’s distinctly non-metal hair and their music which smudged genre barriers and drew from shoegaze, post-rock and post-hardcore, *Sunbather* in the mean time generated real crossover appeal. It received near universally positive critical reception, all the more remarkable given its viscerating nature both musically and lyrically, with singer Clarke’s word provide little respite from the intensity in either their delivery or their content. Totally Dublin caught up with Clarke ahead of their Dublin date in Whelans to find out about the black metal continuum and if he’s got any words for the haters.
Have you begun work on the follow up to Sunbather? If so, will the new material be a progression or departure from that album, thematically and musically?
We have certain things written, but nothing concrete enough to have a solid idea for a follow up. I think that, in order to stay interested, progression is the natural way to go. While the new material will have familiar nods, we are always looking to be better than we were in both a musical and thematic sense.
The band’s lineup seems to shift on a regular basis, do you foresee a stable lineup coming together at some point?
The lineup that we’ve had for the last year and half is our official one and will be part of all touring and recording from now on.
Following on from that; the songwriting process has cycled between the two founding members of the band and the full lineup over your three releases, do you have a preferred method of composing, or one that feels more natural?
We’ve always preferred having a full band be part of the writing process but unfortunately, that hasn’t always been the case and when it’s not, we take over from there. Looking forward to having a full band to write with once again, however.
In terms of lyrics, will you always return to personal, inward-looking themes drawn from lived experiences, or are you interested in addressing more conceptual, abstract themes?
For Deafheaven, the lyrics and themes will always draw from personal experiences. That side of our band is a very selfish one.
Have you considered working outside the paradigm of metal (say like Irresistible from *Sunbather*) in a more long-form way?
Of course, and I’m sure we will. Everything is a building process. We’ve only written two records, so we’ll continue to evolve in a number of ways.
Do you see Deafheaven as being situated in the continuum of black metal? If not, what musical lineage do you consider the band to be a part of? Or is it something that you’d rather not spend time thinking about?
It’s not something I’m concerned with. A band’s legacy is often determined after their expiration so while we’re in the midst of this project, I’m not thinking of it.
What is your response to genre purists who have reacted negatively to Deafheaven because of things like your visual aesthetic and acclaim from the mainstream music press?
None at all.
What’s your experience of touring Europe been like in the past? Are you travelling anywhere new that you’re particularly looking forward to?
We always love coming to Europe. By this point, we’ve gained many friendships so it continues to get better and better. I don’t believe we’re travelling anywhere new, but I am looking forward to visiting to the many places we have before, including a headlining return to Ireland.
Have the songs from Sunbather evolved in a live context, a year on from the release of the record and with the addition of Stephen [Clark, on bass] and Shiv [Mehra, on guitar]?
We’ve beefed them up a lot and have changed little parts here and there to become heavier in a live context. Having Stephen and Shiv is a blessing. Their skill has added a lot to how well we perform the songs.
Deafheaven play Whelans with support from No Spill Blood on Tuesday 19th August. Tickets cost €16.
Words: Ivan Deasy
