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AGONY DIVINE
INTERVIEW WITH DAVID DOWLER
Your bio says Agony Divine found their vocalist (David Dowler) when he and Jason Neal were "sharing libations at a Slayer show." How did he come to join the band?
I met Jason in a parking lot partying before a Slayer show in late 2001. For the next couple months we just hung out partying, getting to know each other. Then Jason invited me over to their recording/practicing facility and basically had me yell, scream, whatever into a mic for awhile so they other guys could hear my voice. Later that night, Jason called and said him and Greg were ready to start jamming and they liked my voice and that if I wanted the gig it was mine for the taking.
How is your new bassist Ian Hayes working out since he joined? Why did you part company with Wes Brogden?
Ian is no longer with the band. He accepted a job in Las Vegas. Wes basically left because his work schedule wasn’t compatible with our practice and gig schedule.
Agony Divine recently played the Metal Massacre show in Jacksonville, Illinois. Was this a major event or something that was put together between the bands that played? How well were you received?
The Metal Massacre show in Jacksonville, NC was really awesome. It was put together by a local band and the venue. We were very well received by the crowd as well as the other bands. To this date, it was probably the second best show Agony Divine has ever played.
How has the underground metal scene reacted to your fusing death metal with thrash metal? Has the response been positive or negative?
It seems some in the underground don’t know what to make of our fusion of death and thrash metal. We’ve had mostly positive responses from crowds and other bands but we’ve heard some grumblings. It seems in the area of the world we are in that old school thrash/death metal isnt very popular amongst the cliques of Raleigh, NC.
Who has been the band's chief lyricist since the beginning? Has it been one or more people? Where does the inspiration to write come from? How does this imagery go over with the audience when you play live?
Greg and Jason have written the majority of the lyrics and I’ve thrown in some verses here and there. I would say most of our inspiration comes from the society we live in. Because American society is so fucked up nowadays we have plenty of topics to write about.
Your first demo "Tomorrow Never Comes" was reportedly received well in the United States and abroad. How widely was it distributed and which countries gave the band favorable responses? Describe what the songs are about.
We received favorable responses to our first demo, Tomorrow Never Comes, from Poland, Belarus, Mexico, Egypt, and the U.S. I believe there are some more countries as well but I cant remember. There were only a few hundred copies of that first demo distributed.
In what ways is your second demo "Defiled by Fear" an improvement over "Tomorrow Never Comes? Is it being as widely distributed as the last demo? In what ways have your lyrics changed on the new demo?
The biggest improvement from the first demo to the second is probably the overall quality of the mix. The 2nd demo is being distributed by Morbid Souls Records out of Ohio and is also available through our website. There is really no change in the style of lyrics.
Agony Divine are previewing songs from "Defiled By Fear" and "Tomorrow Never Comes" on their website. How much has this helped generate interest? Has there been more zine interest or fan interest?
Promoting the songs on our website has generated more fan interest by enabling people to hear us before they come out to the shows. Plus, many people tell us they like the fact we put the entire song on the website instead of just a sample of the song.
How did your distribution deal with Louisville, Ohio's Morbid Souls Music come about? Have they treated you well since you hooked up with them? Have they done any advertising for the band?
Our guitar player, Greg, set-up the deal with Morbid Souls. The internet has made the world very small and as a result it’s easier for bands to promote themselves and find underground labels that are willing to help the band be heard.
Honestly, the underground metal scene, and metal scene in general is very pathetic in central North Carolina.
Is there a healthy underground scene where you're based in North Carolina? Which bands and zines are most worth mentioning in your opinion?
Bloodwritten and Blatant Disarray are two local bands that come to mind that are both original and true metal.
Where else have you played in the United States that you would most like to go back to play again?
To date, we’ve only played shows throughout North Carolina.
Has there been zine coverage outside the United States? If so, where did the most favorable exposure come from?
Not sure.
Are there plans to release a third demo? Will you be hoping to sign to a major independent label once it's out?
There are no plans to release a 3rd demo. We plan on going into the studio sometime later this year to begin recording our first full-length effort. We will be trying very hard to get signed by a major independent label once the full-length is finished.
Where do you see the band about five years from now?
I really cant say where Agony Divine will be in 5 years. Ideally, we would like to be on tour across the world opening for Cannibal Corpse.
Anything you want to end the interview with?
To end, I would like to say thanks for the interview opportunity and for your interest in Agony Divine. As for anyone who will be reading the interview all I can say is this: if you like original, old school thrash/death metal in the spirit of Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, etc. then give Agony Divine a listen and I think you’ll like what you hear. We welcome any and all feedback, positive or negative. Comments can be sent to www.agonydivine.com
-Dave Wolff |
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