A Dirty Dozen with VISERION – September 2021

According to a recent press release: “Formed in 2019, Viserion came together to cast their long shadow over the world. Taking inspiration from arguably black metal’s most fertile and explosive period — the early to mid-1990s — the music channels the unrelenting terror and iciness of their forebears: Mayhem, Darkthrone and Behemoth. The foreboding darkness that transcends from each note is a palpable experience.” We get the band to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

The drums do a lot of non-traditional grooves and patterns that upon multiple listens stand out. As far as hidden nuggets go, one song can be considered educational as its lyrics are the textbook definition of what Natural Selection truly is.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Ben: What got me into music was hearing Cliff Burton play bass on “Orion” That song made me want to play bass guitar and then upon listening to Whitechapel and Mayhem I decided to start practicing vocals.

Matt: The first time I wanted to be a drummer was hearing “Sic” by Slipknot. I still remember being in an afterschool club, hearing the drums and thinking to myself “I have to learn how to do whatever the hell that is.”

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Ben: I can’t name one per say but Opeth and Mayhem have played a huge role in my musical taste.

Matt: It’s impossible to name one but The Great Misdirect by Between The Buried And Me really expanded and diversified the type of music that I listen to.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Ben: Mayhem, Behemoth, Opeth, Ellende, and Death.

Matt: Between The Buried And Me, Gojira, Porcupine Tree, Opeth and Mastodon.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Ben: Having Trevor Strnad on “The Wraith” was already and amazing experience as he’s one of my vocal inspirations. I’d want to continue in the same vein and have another vocalist I look up to, Phil Boseman, on a track someday.

Matt: I’d have to go with George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher. He’s one of the most iconic voices in metal history and he’s my biggest influence as a vocalist.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Ben: I think we are a unique take on old school Norwegian black metal mixed with our influences of death metal and more modern black metal. Nothing too outlandish as far as comparisons go but unless its something atrocious we probably won’t care.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

The pizza place usually cooks, we take turns grabbing the drinks or buying a round if at a bar and we don’t take out the acoustics but our drummer constantly taps on every surface anywhere near him like it’s a makeshift drum pad.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Ben: When I got my Sorceress record signed by all of Opeth. It was the only time I was speechless.

Matt: Meeting Blake Richardson after seeing BTBAM live for the first time was absolutely amazing.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Ben: The best part of being a musician is creating a part and working with others to create this whole piece. You may play a few chords but once you layer everything it becomes an epic part. My dream job would be to open up my own venue/record shop.

Matt: The best part to me is the feeling of accomplishment from creating something that you love out of literally nothing. It’s contributing to what I consider to be the most amazing thing in life: music. If I couldn’t be a musician, I’d put all my creative efforts into my screenwriting and playwriting.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

We’ve always wanted a question more about the studio we recorded at and who the producer is etc etc. They’re a big part of what made our album possible. The answer would be we recorded at Level Up Studios in NY. Our producer and mixer, David, not only pushed record but gave feedback and ideas on structure or tones that we used throughout the record. We are probably tired most of answering how we all met.

11.  Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I’d say a misstep would be how we only budgeted for certain things and did not include budgeting for merch, artwork, and physical album copies as much as we should have.

12.  If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Ben: I would’ve wanted to be a part of the record Human by Death. Not only was that lineup insanely talented the also pushed the genre of extreme metal forward in a way that hadn’t been seen before.

Matt: I have to go with The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails. That is my favorite album and masterfully delved into the darkness of rage, hopelessness, and chaos in such a unique, twisted and creative way.

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Category: Interviews