That title doesn’t completely explain the multifaceted approach of Seattle based Dark Meditation but it comes pretty damn close. Add a touch of black metal and a shot of heavy blues and you’re even warmer. We’ve had an excellent time getting to know the band via their killer debut from 2022 and now with their sophomore effort Where The Darkness Bleeds we feel like we’re related as they’re able to tap similar veins and feels that we experience through their music. True it’s an MLP but the band has packed a lifetime of hooks and storytelling in a shortened runtime. The album has been out a week now so hopefully you’ve dabbled but if not, head immediately below to get acquainted with this set of Profile answers then hit the links contained at the end to secure your own copy.
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?
We all started playing in our early youth. Most of us are from the Seattle area and the grunge scene was exploding as we first started to pick up our instruments, that led to heavier and harder music which first was punk and then metal. A natural progression. The core of the band (Adam, Ryan, Ian) has been friends since high school and played together in many projects throughout the years, Dark Meditation is the most recent iteration.
How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?
Dark Heavy Rock n’ Roll.
Is there one (or more) thing about your latest / upcoming album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?
We recorded the whole thing in our practice space with a lot of different gear and processes which is impressive if you saw the state of the room!
Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?
They say be careful with the food and water you consume as a foreigner when traveling through Mexico, we learned this the hard way on our last tour and festival apparencies….
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?
The amount of new and old underground bands making great music across all styles of metal is staggering, there is almost too much good stuff coming out on a regular basis, which leads to the problem that there might be more albums/bands than fans to enjoy it.
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?
The continued destruction of the environment, the rise of the oligarch and corporate classes, the further consolidation of power into the hands of the few and the erosion of personal freedom and autonomy for all individuals through religious and government agencies is beyond alarming. Being aware and resisting is within the messaging of our music, albeit at a more personal and esoteric level.
Do you guys have day jobs or hobbies you want to share?
We all have careers and other interests that we focus on outside of music (and other bands), in a related sense our singer Adam does a fair amount of artwork and design for other bands and labels.
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?
Being a critic serves a crucial role and can be a thankless job. When a critic can judge a work on its own merits without comparing it to other genre stalwarts or their own personal expectations is the key to a proper critique, those thoughts or comparisons have a place to help put a work in context but should not be the total basis for the review.
Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?
We’ve been fortunate so far to play with some of our favorite new bands, tour a bit and be invited to play some killer festivals. We hope to keep that going and play in other parts of the world while we continue to work on new music.
When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently? (Feel free to include non-metal)
Classics by Mercyful Fate, Danzig, Fields of the Nephilim, Motörhead, Darkthrone, Killing Joke, The Devil’s Blood get a lot of play. Currently, releases by Dax Riggs, Bambara, Balmog, Wovenhand, NITE, Patrol, and Deathless Void have all been in heavy rotation.
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 are mainly focusing on the release of the new MLP ‘Where the Darkness Bleeds,’ festival appearances at Hells Heroes and Northwest Terror Fest, and a series of shows in the NW to help promote/celebrate the release. So hopefully we can meet some new folks and spread some Northern Darkness.
Summarize your band in one word. (Disclosure: If you use more than one word, we’ll probably just pick our favorite.)
Phantasmagoric
Many thanks to Dark Meditation for their time!
Where The Darkness Bleeds is available now on Carry On The Gloom Records. For more information on Dark Meditation, visit their Facebook page.
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