Well,are you giving the final touches to your new release?
Actually we won't be recording until late Spring. Right now we are putting final touches on all midi files (we have a few surprises for the album), song technique, practicing, artwork, and other surprises... We are also wrapping up loose ends on funding for the album with our sponsorship program (see www.divinerapture.net) and attempting to secure a marketing and distribution contract.
How does it feel to be considered one of the best bands in the death metal scene today?
WOW!!! It's great you think that, brother! We try our best to bring all sorts of emotions to the table in our music and to deliver it with skill. Dynamics are a key to our formula. They express feeling and slight noticeable alterations in playing. It shows that a band has heart. You can feel it come through on the other end of the speakers. We take our playing and lyrics seriously. The lyrics are well thought-out and deep and we are continuously trying to grow as musicians by refining our technique. We've gotten a lot of reaction for the application of technique as an enhancement to the emotion. We really take our time when we write and it allows the song to stew and receive input from our sources. Our songs don't result from jam sessions together. We try to nurture a song enough through intense thought and application that the song becomes an entity in itself instead of just a bag of riffs and I think that shows.
How did you got in contact with Erik Rutan to produce your new songs? IS he going to produce the new album too?
We had been speaking with him before back and forth for awhile and it just so happened that when we were set to record the new songs, he was opening Dimensional Sound Studios. So we asked him if we could come down to Tampa and set a date. He's going to produce the full-length too so we're excited as hell because his ear for the type of sound we're looking for is exceptional!! He knows how to bring out that fullness... that overall clean sound that allows you to hear the articulation and still get an IN-YOUR-FACE pummelling. And he's a real pro. He's serious about tones and preparation and just about the way things get done in general. It's a lot of fun working with him.
Can you tell us a little bit about the beginnings of the band?
Well, my brother and I started the band back in the mid 90's. At the time I was writing all of the music and he was producing all of the artwork and lyrics. We ran a few demo tapes in the Philly area to show what we were up to. We also went through a bunch of member changes then. Members just had a hard time keeping up with the speed or just found that every time we reached another step in the process, more effort was required and they'd rather wallow in their own sloth. We eventually recorded a self-titled album and released that through as many distros and media as we possibly could. We really put a hell of a lot of effort into a marketing and distro campaign for that album. As a result, the word kept spreading. Things snowballed from there. Exceptional musicians joined the band. We performed at a lot of the fests. We ended up supporting Deicide, Dying Fetus, In Flames, Mortician, etc... and we really pushed hard to get as much international media exposure as possible. If you wanna check out more info on us, hit www.divinerapture.net
Which are the main differences between the new songs and the ones in your debut album?
The new songs are definitely way more expansive, harmonically complex and open than the older album. On the first album, I wrote all the music and Mike did all the artwork and lyrics. It was a different time in our musical development. You can hear it in the riffs. The feeling of that album is definitely more closed and grass roots...in an internalized, focused energy type of way. Babak and I write a lot of the material together now and feed off of each other's input so the guitar parts actually sound that way. They complement each other and that coupled with a general natural molting of our source and playing, opens the feeling of the music into a more positively, outward-directed, flow-from-a-massive-internal-energy-well type of way. We hardly even play the same things at the same time in each song anymore. Actually the lyrics on these new songs are in the same direction as the music - more outward directed and open. Just check out the difference. Black Moon Harvest and possibly Glimmer From Beneath off the first one reflect the beginning of the molt. You can hear how the feeling is beginning to change on those two songs.
How were Divine Rapture´s live shows experience up to now?
Live has been great!! We get a kick-ass reaction at live shows. People just really feel the music and it's a great give and take between us and the crowd. As the crowd reacts, gets in the pit and sings the lyrics back to us, we feel it more and naturally give more. We've always had an enthusiastic crowd man. A lot of people saw us at the last Metal Meltdown and said we had one of the biggest crowds at the festival and that definitely was one of our best performances ,energy-wise, to date besides Deicide. When we played with Deicide, the energy level from us and the crowd went through the roof.
Did you find a new bassist for the band? Who is he?
There are a couple of successful candidates we're still going through so we'll be in contact with them and we're holding open auditions too. If anybody wants to get in contact about the position, write info@divinerapture.net. Myself and Babak are covering bass right now...
Do you have planning of touring to support the new material?
Absolutely. We're going to try and get out there as much as we can to support this album. There are already a few things in the works this year that center around late spring, fall and winter. There's a bunch of different factors that go into touring and things are constantly in flux, so keep checking www.divinerapture.net for updates....
What are Divine Rapture´s lyrics about?
My brother, Mike, writes very well thought-out lyrics that just touch a chord with everyone's paths. Even though, they reflect issues that are very personal to him, you can find meanings in them that can be applied to your own personal path. They're definitely not your normal run-of-the-mill gore dribble. Each song has it's own theme in relation to a personal struggle. For the best explanation of subject matter though, he would be the one to ask...
What do you think of the US death metal scene?
The U.S. death scene is pretty good. It depends what area and who's on the bill also. With death metal bands touring on bigger tours (i.e. Morbid Angel with Pantera), the seed spreads more also. I'd like to see what it's like over in Europe. We haven't gotten a chance to come over yet and I hear very good things about the scene there.
Any final words?
Wait till you hear this new material! It is completely brutal and as expansive as those songs on the cd. The album's going to have a few surprises on it too. So make sure to keep a look out on www.divinerapture.net for updates about the album and tours!!!
Divine Rapture
P.O. Box 159
Chester Heights, PA 19017
DIVINE RAPTURE - DISCOGRAPHY
Divine Rapture - CD (1999)
Promo 2001 - CD Promo (2001)
