Interview with Derek of the Doom Metal Alliance

First off how's life been treating you overall lately? Anything awesome to report on?
Derek: I lead a rather bland life. I work nights as a janitor, which leaves me little to no time to chill out with friends and go to shows. (not that any good bands come through town for me to see anyways) I cant for the life of me find anyone who wants to start a band, so I may go the route of a punk rock band (another love of mine). Other than that, I sit around drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes and herb while playing guitar and pissing around on the internet finding new jams. Music is a drug to me. I always need more.
I know of course you run the Doom Metal Alliance and therefore gotta be pretty into doom. What other kinds of music do you like? Any bands you might be into that would shock and maybe even disturb folks?
Derek: Something that will shock and disturb. lol. I love Franz Ferdinand's first two albums. They make me want to dance. Staying Alive by the Bee Gees is an awesome song. Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar album is awesome. Some of my favorite non doom bands are Ween, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Crippled Black Phoenix, Dax Riggs, Bob Dylan, PJ Harvey, Masters of Reality, Cryptopsy, KMFDM, Mono, Pink Floyd, Crass, John Lee Hooker, Bach's Pipe Organ works (Bach was Doom!) Tom Waits. Honestly, I could go on forever. Im an old punk rocker, so that will always be in my blood, and i have a liking for folk the last couple years.
For someone who has never heard doom metal before, what would be a good starter album for them? I made the mistake of telling my girlfriend (when we met) that i liked metal and the first example i gave her was Emperor. Yikes. Something that might not scare the shit out of them right off the bat?
Derek: Sabbath is always the best starter if you ask me. Its "classic rock" and people know it, so its a good place to explain the scene. Bands like Witchcraft, Burning Saviours, Blood Ceremony and Jex Thoth are a nice mellow place to start. Aluna released a beautiful EP. It is rather romantic in its ways. Bluesy doom, and highly suggested.
If you had to narrow it down to one album that turned you onto doom what would it be and how come?
Well, I guess in a sence, it was Kyuss' Sky Valley album. It led me to really hearing Sabbath. Sky Valley to this day is one of my favorite albums. But Electric Wizard's Dopethrone certainly sealed the deal. That album still blows me away to this day. Sabbath aside (yes i do consider them the worlds first doom metal band, prove me wrong) Electric Wizard's Dopethrone was the first true doom metal album I ever bought.
When did you start doing the DMA and what were the intentions you had when you got it rolling?
Derek: I started the DMA in September of 2007. I started it in hopes to find more doom metal and show it to others. I had only been listening to doom metal a year and a half by then and hadnt been to exposed to much of what there really was. I could get all the big name bands that any doom fan knows. But from there I knew nothing. I am still learning to this day. Im not the doom metal genious people think me out to be. Ive only been a doom metal fan 3 years now, and anyone who knows what the site like when I started would tell you that the site was shit when it first started.
There are so many different classifications that fall under the doom umbrella. What style is it that you are most into and what are some of the highlight bands you dig from it?
When it first started out for me, it was traditional and "stoner" doom. my first purchases for doom were Electric Wizard, Cathedral, Sleep, Saint Vitus, Candlemass, Obsessed and Acid Witch. I couldnt get into sludge for a long time, which is weird cuz i love old school punk rock and hardcore. Death Doom and the likes just didnt do it for me. But these days, I can get down on anything as long as its well written. But anything that shows a strong likeness to Sabbaths first 6 albums give me wood.
There has too be tons of bands and styles of doom that you've come in contact with through the DMA. Who are some of the bands you would suggest to people?
Apostle of Solitude recorded my favorite album of 2008.http://www.myspace.com/apostleofsolitude
Asunder - Sludgy Death Doom akin to Corruptedhttp://www.myspace.com/totheendofdays
Pale Divine - I think this band could lead the way for doom metal. I see alot of power metal fans love this bandhttp://www.myspace.com/paledivine
Hyperion Blast - The sludge band that made me love sludge metal.http://www.myspace.com/endtimeblasts
Orn - Same as Asunder as in sludgy death doomhttp://www.myspace.com/orndead
Hounds of Hasselvander (Joe fucking Hasselvander, the one time 20 year member of Pentagram. Yes, Bobby Liebling Pentagram. Joe wrote much of what you love.) http://www.myspace.com/thehoundsofhasselvander
Sanctus Infernum - Death Doomhttp://www.myspace.com/sanctusinfernum
Caskets Open - Doom Metal for lovers of Saint Vitus and Reverend Bizarrehttp://www.myspace.com/casketsopen
Rise - Progressive Doom Rock that fans of Pagan Alter should enjoyhttp://www.myspace.com/rise004
You could look in my blog as well for my top ten debut albums at http://www.myspace.com/doommetalunion
I know I could sit here and list off another 50 unkown bands
Do you ever see doom taking over the world or should it stayed buried deep in the underground?
Derek: Im glad you asked this question. Its a hot topic for me and would love to share my views on the subject. I hear people all the time saying keep it underground. I always question that. Dont you want the bands you like to be able to make a living off of music? Wouldnt you like to see them tour to your city all the time? If you havent noticed, underground bands dont get to tour all to often as they have to work jobs. This whole selling out thing has gotten out of hand if you ask me. You sign to a major label, and you have sold out. WTF?! That makes no sence to me. They are making a living playing music you love, and they sold out. Here is a perfect example.When I was a 11, I listened to Greenday. This was before Dookie came out and every kid listened to them. When they signed to Geffen or what ever label it was, the old fans didnt like them anymore cuz they sold out. They sound the same to this very day. Where did they sell out? They are making money. Thats selling out?Now there is the fear of becoming a myspace band. Jesus Christ. Bands have found a way around having to depend on labels, and now the fans are bitching that they are a myspace band like its a bad thing. To you people, I say fuck you. You are condemning your bands to remain underground and only record 3 albums cuz being in a band just didnt cut it. Its a career choice. Give them a break.
Lots of people say doom metal is the last stop on the aging musicians train. Basically that it's for old fucks that can't keep up with the speed, energy and intensity of the kids. I'm sure you have something to say about that.
Derek: So Lee Dorrian, Jus Oborn, Matt Pike and countless other doom idols who started playing doom in their early 20's after playing in more "hardcore bands" were just too old to continue playing hardcore? Matt Pike was 20 when Sleep recorded Holy Mountain. Lee Dorrian Was 22 when Cathedral recorded Forest of Equilibrium. Sounds to me that maybe some people have trouble playing at such a slow tempo and wish they could ;)
I think the DMA is a great source for bands to grab the attention of new people and for people to catch up on some new bands. My band has gotten a great response from people who found us on the DMA page. Any thoughts and feelings on your role in the doom scene? Is this something you plan to keep going for a while?
Derek: I hear all the time what good I do for the scene. I find it a little hard to believe really. It fills me with pride when I hear it though, I must admit. Honestly, doom metal only makes up 30-40 percent of my listening. In fact, during this interview so far, I have been listening to Bob Dylan, and am at the moment listening to Boris' more ambient works. So it can be hard to do the site at times, when im just not feeling the doom. But it always comes back to me thankfully.
Ever get bored with doom or is it kind of like cheap beer? Sometimes you like to try new things and shit but it's always there when you want it?
Derek: As I stated in the last question, I dont even listen to doom half the time. Some times I get supremely bored of doom metal. It usually comes when I dont want to listen to anything heavy or abrassive. I end up listening to Nick Cave, Dax Riggs, Leonard Cohen, Crippled Black Phoenix, Dead Meadow. I go through really mellow stages. Then one day I wake up, and need a riff. Bang like a slap in the face, the music has never sounded heavier. I love how it works out.
Any final thoughts???
Punk is fucking dead! The kids need some new jams. Sludge I definately see being the new age of angstful kids identifying with music.
You know the drill...Start plugging the site and whatever else you wanna do.
Thanks a ton man for your time in doing this. Gotta keep the doomish goodies rolling.
Doom Metal is the truest form of metal there is. There is nothing heavier. I plugged myself already up top, but I will do so again. Visit the Doom Metal Alliance at http://www.myspace.com/doommetalunion
Youtube channel full of great videos all approved for posting by the bands at http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3VzZXIvRG9vbU1ldGFsQWxsaWFuY2U=
Thank you for the interview. I had a blast.