It’s an absolutely wonderful time to be alive if you’re into the Australian alternative and progressive rock scene. The almighty Karnivool have just released their long awaited third album, Asymmetry, and it promptly went to number one in the ARIA charts. This year we have also already seen superb releases from the likes of Bellusira, Jericco, Sleep Parade, Helm, Self is a Seed and more. By the end of the year we should have brand new material from Circles, Sydonia, The Nerve, Engine and heaps more.
Then of course, there is Brisbane’s DEAD LETTER CIRCUS, whose second album, The Catalyst Fire drops on August 9, and is causing close to as much anticipation around the nation as the ‘VOOL’s new opus. Like Karnivool, their new record has been quite a long time coming since their debut This is the Warning, and as guitarist CLINT VINCENT tells ROD WHITFIELD, he is very happy to finally be on the verge of its release.
“We’re super excited man,” he enthuses. “There was quite a lot of work put in, even before I was in the band the preparations for this album started. Since I’ve been there, it’s been a year and a half, and there’s a lot of everyone’s heart and soul in this, so we’re pretty pumped about it.”
The new album takes the band’s sound into a lot of new tones and textures, whilst still maintaining their core style. It’s harder and yet softer at the same time, and fans will be very happy with what they hear. “A lot of people when they first hear it, say it’s a lot heavier,” Clint begins his description, “but I think what you’ll find is it’s a lot more varied, it’s not necessarily heavier, or lighter, but it’s got a bit of both, know what I mean?
“I think what you’d say is that a lot of the restrictions were lifted and we said ‘where can we take it?’, so we made it rock, we brought the bass right up front, and made it heavier, and brought the rhythm guitars up as well. We also, in the same sense, kept the leads up as well. And also then, we wanted to make more lighter moments as well, let’s experiment with a few different sounds that we’ve never really done before.
“All in all,” he concludes, “it’s a little bit heavier, it’s a little bit lighter, it’s like both ends of the spectrum have been widened. Dead Letter Circus has a sound, and we were experimenting on it, seeing how far we could take it this time.”
The second half of the year is going to be taken up with heavy touring commitments. Both here and internationally. The band are no strangers to touring overseas markets, and this time they have scored themselves an excellent tour of Europe, with UK progressive metal act Monuments. Clint is very excited about the prospect. “I’m super excited,” he says. “Personally I’ve always wanted to go to Europe, and we’re actually going to South Africa as well. Once we leave Australia, we go to South Africa first, we do a festival and a club show over there. Then we’re off to Europe with Monuments, and we’ve got more in the pipeline, we could be staying overseas even longer too. I don’t know much about it just yet, but watch this space!”
The band have also been to the States three times in their career already, and more of the same is looking very likely in the next twelve months or so as well. “Definitely, we’re not leaving that place unturned, if you know what I mean,” he states. “It’s definitely a territory we want to work.”
Ultimately, for a band such as this, Australia and the rest of the world are their oyster. “We love Australia, this is our home,” he says, “we’re focusing on here, and the rest of the world. We’re just doing whatever we can, this is what we do, this is everyone’s dream, to play music. And we’ll just continue to do it wherever, and to anyone who’ll have us.”
Dead Letter Circus, supported by Closure In Moscow and Sleep Parade, perform at the Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, on Saturday September 7, 2013.