With doom metal being one of the forerunners of the heavy metal movement, it's no surprise that the 40-years of history involved still inspires and encompasses some of the modern bands today. With a plethora of bands that drop tuning and summon long dark entities through those cursed 'devil's chords’; Castle is one of the bands to certainly watch for in the coming months. They have the sound and know just what it takes to create an atmosphere of deep and dismal dread. I spoke with Mat Davis from the band and he enlightened me about all things Castle.  

Chris: Greetings, and thanks for talking with us. Congratulations on a very impressive debut in In Witch Order. Can we get some background on Castle? Where is everyone from? How long has the band been together, and how did you get together?

Mat Davis: Thanks Chris.  Castle's debut was 4 years in the making.  Most of that time was spent on my own, writing and recording demos.  I met Liz a couple years ago in San Francisco where we live.  She heard some of the demos and as she puts it "literally fell off her chair".  When I heard her sing I started to put it all together with her vocals in mind.   A year ago Liz urged me to record the songs properly in a studio.  So I brought together some friends and had a great time recording the album.  Phil Manley produced it,  Allyson Baker did the vocal engineering and of course Al McCartney on drums, who I go way back with.  Our teenage years were both spent playing in metal bands in Canada.

Chris: In a genre completely overrun with female lead singers that all sound like one another, Elizabeth Blackwell is really set apart from the boring, typical vocalist in that her delivery is eerie without being derivative or overly-theatrical. You almost certainly never say any ‘doom’ metal female singers until the last couple of years with Christian Mistress, Blood Ceremony, Rituals of the Oak and Jex Thoth. Are you all fans of Coven and Jinx Dawson, because in “Slaves of the Pharao” Elizabeth seems to have nailed the sound brilliantly while retaining her own unique style, which a million have tried and failed to do? 

Mat: That's really cool but it's pure coincidence!  I know of Coven of course but I've never really listened to them and I know Elizabeth hasn't either. Elizabeth’s vocal was shaped around the guitar line for that one.  I think I should go listen to some Coven now though...

Chris: It doesn’t take a genius to hear the obvious Black Sabbath influence all over your music, but are there other bands that have set you in motion down this path?

Mat: Thrash metal would be the other main influence. I grew up listening and playing thrash in the late 80's.  Al too.  It's like a way of thinking.  Things get filtered through that mindset.  Celtic Frost and Tom Warrior's music in particular, Voivod, Kreator, Slayer, Metallica, Blind Illusion, I could go on.  That stuff is in there, it's just slowed down and tuned lower.

Chris: Obviously there’s some dark, occult-like themes in the music, and I’m sure you get tired of hearing this but is this topical venture a personal position or just the lyrics that fit the style of you’re playing? I’ve always preferred the gloomy lyrical offering even as object fantasy.

Mat: It's both.  I really don't have any interest in separating the two.  One can lead to the other and vice versa.  For me it's more interesting to blur the lines and leave it open to interpretation.  One person's fantasy is another’s reality, you know?

Chris: It seems a lot of good doom is emanating from the west coast of late. Have you done any shows or would you do a tour with a band like fellow San Franciscans Jex Thoth? Are there plans for a tour of the States or abroad yet?   

Mat: We'll be touring Europe later this year or early next.  In America, we're still looking for a label to release the record!!  I think once we get the album available here, domestically, we'll definitely do some touring behind it.  With whom I'm not sure although Jex Thoth would make an interesting bill.   Can you set it up? :)

Chris: One of the things I really enjoy about In Witch Order is the way Elizabeth changes her vocals throughout. It’s refreshing to see a band take such care to shake up the jar a bit. Are there any plans for a live EP of something that might capture the band’s live prowess?

Mat: On the record we spent a lot of time working on the mood of the vocal for each song.  How to create it and place it.  Liz is really versatile with her voice. She's an amazing singer and you'll hear that even more live.  That's funny you mention a live EP because even though this record is brand new we've already talked about doing that.  I had to re-arrange and re-write a lot of the guitar to make it work for a three piece on stage, so it's a leaner and meaner sound and the melodies jump out more.  Also we're using Liz's voice like a third guitar now.  It would be cool to capture all that with a live release.

Chris: “Butcher of Los Angeles” has that definitive 80’s Sabbath-era sound with an updated feel throughout. It’s my favorite on the album, so I’m curious as to what inspires you all to write the music/lyrics that you do. Is it difficult to try and keep the traditional doomy sound fresh and innovative, because you’ve managed to do it here quite nicely and seemingly easy?   

Mat: Thanks.  Butcher was the first Castle song written and in a way, the template for the rest.  That song struck an attitude and I just tried to maintain it throughout.  It was also probably the easiest to write and I think it shows in the flow.  The inspiration at this point in my life comes from simply wanting to do something new.  I mean it's just guitars, bass and drums but what's fun is to try and twist the mold, break it up a bit and see what you can get away with.  I make music that I want to listen to and I'm probably more of a critic than most, so, you know...  I throw a lot of riffs in the trash.  You gotta kill your babies to get to the killer riffs.  The ones that make you bang your head while you play 'em.  That's what I go for.

Chris: Are you happy with the incredible accolades the album has been getting? I’ve yet to read a negative comment about it at all, which is great.

Mat: You must have missed a few!  Nah, really it's been great.  When someone can look into the work and take away something positive, that's a good thing.

Chris: So I know the album is just released, but what’s on the horizon for Castle? A lot of shows and writing new material as you go?

Mat: I actually have most of the next record written.  It was done at the tail end of the Witch album so there will be some continuity there but it's going to be a different beast altogether.  The band will be there every step of the way this time.

Chris: Thanks so much for talking with us. Hopefully I’ll catch you around Chicago soon enough. Would you like to add anything in closing?

Mat: Thanks and keep an eye out for Castle live.

Castle's Mat Davis

Interviewer: Chris

June 23, 2011

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TO THE TOP

(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Formed: 2007
    San Francisco, CA  USA
Label:  Ván Records
Genre: Doom Metal

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Elizabeth Blackwell:  Vocals & Bass
Mat Davis:  Guitars
Al McCartney:  Drums

DISCOGRAPHY:

In Witch Order (2011)

Check out Chris' review of In Witch Order here