Oh look! Another new release Friday where we end up rolling back the calendar a few, if not several, months. And once again the exercise is totally worth it. This time around, we have Indianapolis-based death metal outfit Obscene, who released Agony & Wounds back in July through Nameless Grave Records. If you’re looking for no-nonsense, unrelenting tried and true death metal? Well then… welcome, friends! And it gets better. They’re taking that sound on the road in a few short weeks, kicking off on December 6th in Dayton. So! To gear up for that, and to revisit a notable death metal release from earlier this year, give Agony & Wounds a listen below while you read vocalist Kyle Shaw’s responses to our Profile questions. Enjoy, and we’ll see ya out there!

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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?

I weaseled my way into doing vocals for my first band. Very few things in life make me happy and fulfilled besides being a part of metal (whether that’s performing, writing lyrics, rehearsing, or just going to gigs and buying records). We started rehearsing summer of 2016, and after a few lineup and name changes have been going steady since fall 2017 with writing, recording, and gigging. We started off when I had put out an SOS about fronting an extreme metal project and Brandon (our drummer) had told me he was starting one. We had mutually agreed on bands like Asphyx, Massacre, Dismember, Demigod, Cianide, etc. No one close to me can tell me shit so no pushback or pleas or anything like that.

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

We’re stone cold death metal. Meat and potatoes, no stupid modifiers, no bullshit. Razor sharp riffs, punishing drums, and tortured howls.

Is there one (or more) thing about your latest album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

Not really. What you see and hear is what you get.

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

A few, but one incident in Louisville stands out. We played a Metal Monday which is a free Monday gig that happens weekly if I understand correctly. Free shows can be cool, and they can also suck because freeloading losers show up just to get drunk with their bros and hit on fat chicks. So, we’re playing and I notice this ham and egger dicking around on his phone at the bar. As a goof, I went up and tried scrolling with him but accidentally knocked his phone out of his hand. I apologized, picked it up, and handed it back. He tried snatching my mic out of my hand but was too soft and too weak to be successful. A buddy of mine tried calming him down, and he puffed up at him. I had told him to chill and he sarcastically retorted with “We’re all paying attention to you, man” and proceeded to stoically stare at me for the remainder of our set. That was sick. Later, I offered to buy him a drink as a peace offering, he ignored me and wouldn’t even look me in the eye. Also super sick. Our primary goal is to entertain, but if we can ruin someone’s night too; that’s also a win.

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?

In Indy, there’s a lot of cool bands popping up and young people enthusiastic about gigs. Worst? Gee, where do I fucking start? The worst shit right now are deathcore bands who think they’re “old school death metal” because they discovered Mortician thru a meme or TikTok. Just call it what it is, man.

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?

We don’t give a shit about anything besides being sick as hell and better than everyone around us.

Do you guys have day jobs or hobbies you want to share?

Yeah, we have day jobs. Underground death metal doesn’t pay the bills. Some bands boohoo about this, but we won’t. All that means is we do this shit because we want to. Thankfully, we’ve been successful enough to continue carrying on without succumbing to abject poverty.

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?

Oh man, that’s a loaded question. I can’t say I have a good answer because I don’t pay close enough attention to nowadays metal journalism. Just keep on trucking? I pretty much hate musicians who whine about how tough the grind is. That’s weakling shit.

Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?

We’d love to get overseas whether that’s a tour or a fest. MDF would also rule. We’re pretty much tailor made for that fest. Can any music critics or outlets help us out there?

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

Lemmy get you a good ol’ fashioned playlist of 5 records I’ve been spinning lately:
Hemdale/Exhumed – “In the Name of Gore”
Master – Unreleased 1985 album
Armored Saint – “March of the Saint”
Deceased – “…As the Weird Travel On”
Graveripper – “Seasons Dreaming Death”

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

We have a brief tour come winter time in the works. That’s about all I can divulge at this point.

Summarize your band in one word.

It’s in the name! OBSCENE!

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Many thanks to Obscene for the time!

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Agony & Wounds is out through Nameless Grave Records. For information on Obscene, give them a follow on Facebook or Instagram.