Necroverse, the new EP from Herakleion, arrives this coming Friday the 13th (hell yeah!) and it’s one we all should have circled. To start, yes, it’s a brilliant display of gritty, punishing classic death thrash, but it is also so much more than that. Old school to the core, Herakleion delivers their form of the genre in a way that is as authentic as it gets. You can preview some of Necroverse below, in this latest Profile, and you’ll probably notice right off the bat just how satisfying this sounds. There’s a reason for that. They tapped Pete deBoer (Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice) to support an entirely analog production, and the results are simply awesome. Necroverse is a quick burn, barely 20 minutes, but I promise you’re going to run through this thing time and again. At this point we’re only a couple of days away from its release, and Speed, Apollo, and Christian took some time to share a little more about this release and Herakleion more generally. Have at it, my friends! You know what to do from here.

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How and when did you first get into playing music, or metal more specifically, and how did your band get its start? Any pushback from family/those close to you?

Apollo: I was given my first guitar at the age of 5 and got into heavier music around 9 years old. A few years ago, I put an ad out looking for musicians, and found Speed. Since the band began, we’ve had nothing but support from almost everyone in our lives.

Speed: I started on the drums before I was 2. Most of my early influence was from Keith Moon’s playing. My listening gradually shifted from KISS and the Ramones to Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, then to Metallica and Megadeth around middle school. I was never expecting to be in a band and it wasn’t until I met Apollo that I had anyone with a shared interest for extreme metal to bond with, musically. 

Christian: My mom made me pick an instrument at a young age. Drums were my first choice at 6 years old. I picked up guitar at 19 and taught myself how to play my basic chords so I could play easy songs in my room for fun. A few months later I switched to bass and started playing in bands. After stumbling upon Jaco Pastorius’ masterpiece solo album, I never listened to music the same again. My family is incredibly supportive. They know I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.

How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?

Speed: Raw and angry, Ripping Death-Thrash. The band is our interpretation of what death and thrash metal was… and always should be.

Apollo: It’s an aggressive release, in artistic form.

Christian: Our band’s initial inspiration for musical direction was a combination of old school Tampa Bay death metal and Teutonic thrash.  

Is there anything about your upcoming album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

Speed: The title track from the new EP was recorded live off the floor, by candlelight, and it was the first and only take.

Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?

Speed: No, but we almost ran over a guy at a Costco, though.

What do you see as some of the great things happening in and around the metal scene (yours or just in general) and what are some of the worst things happening right now?

Apollo: I’ve seen primarily positive things out in the metal scene and at the shows. I’m really happy to see the resurgence of old school metal.

Christian: I’m really enjoying that a lot of younger kids are getting into old school thrash and death metal. It is promising for longevity of the scene as a whole. There’s nothing in metal right now I’d say I think is “the worst”.

Most folks have passions for a cause or causes that are close to them. What, if any, are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you / your band and how do you insert those issues into your music?

Apollo: I was always neutral and uninterested in any kind of politics and social issues, and can speak for the band as well when I say that it’s not a focus of what we set out to do.

Christian: There’s no politics or social commentary in Herakleion. You hear enough about that stuff on social media and through the news. We like to write things that can be enjoyed universally.

What advice do you have for music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?

Apollo: Always be on the search for the next band with the hunger and dedication for the life.

Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?

Speed: Constant touring and continuous writing, and the natural growth that comes with it.

Christian: I just want to make music, travel and play shows for as many people as possible with my best friends for as long as I possibly can. This is about the journey, not the destination.

When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently?

Speed: Possessed – “The Eyes of Horror”
Siouxsie and the Banshees – “Juju”
Massacra – “Final Holocaust”
King Crimson – “Discipline”

Apollo: The first two Wishbone Ash albums.

Christian: Devil Master – “Ecstasies of Never Ending Night”
Chat Pile – “God’s Country”
Goatwhore – “Angels Hung from the Arches of Heaven”

What is the near future outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?

Speed: We’ve been waiting to release this new EP, “Necroverse”, for quite a while. It will feel good to finally get it out there, and get out on the road more. 

Apollo: We’re supporting Goatwhore on some dates in August, really excited for that.

Summarize your band in one word.

Punishing.

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Many thanks to Herakleion for the time!

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Necroverse is out now this coming Friday, September 13. For more information on Herakleion, check out their website or give them a follow on Facebook or Instagram.