Blake From Hecatomb - Bringing back the old guard

Hecatomb are a exiting fairly new Doom Metal band doing things a little different.With so many bands starting to sound the same "Hecatomb" have something a little different to offer Doom fans.Mixing various influences including some Black Metal they have a sound that grabs you from the first listen.I see a good future for them.Here is a interview with Blake(bass) from the band.
Thanks Blake for this interview.First let's get the ball rolling by telling all the readers about how the band got together ?
Well to be honest I'm not necessarily an original member, but I am their first bassist. From my understanding Josh [Gardner, lead singer] and Ian [McKinney, guitarist] knew eachother from high school, and since they are into the same kinds of music, they formed Hecatomb about a year ago I guess.
Obliviously you are a Doom Metal band.Has this always been the direction you wanted to head in ?
Well yes, I love Doom Metal, obviously, but Hecatomb is more than just an ordinary Doom band. You see Ian and Tyson [Jacobs, drummer] have been in a number of Black Metal bands over the years, so that style leaks into our music quite often. Just recently, Ian and I started working on a new song that sounds alot like Emperor if you ask me. SO yes I'd say this is exactly where I want to be in music.
What has been your own musical history,what instruments do you play and when did you first discover Metal ?
Well I play a few instruments: Bass, Guitar, Harmonica, and I do vocals from time to time. I discovered Metal through my friend Jacob Harber and my dad. They both showed me Black Sabbath almost around the same time and I was hooked, and started listening to bands like Metallica and AC/DC. Soon I picked up bass, and you know the rest of the story.
What is your opinion on the current crop of Doom bands ?
Well I've always liked the old guard over the new guard, but I must say a lot of the newer Doom bands like Witchcraft and The Sword really have that nice Sabbath-like heaviness to them.
The band looks like it could have a big future judging by the tracks i have there a certain level of success you would like the band to achieve ?
It would be cool if the band became big somehow, but the state music is in at the moment, I don't see it happening for a number of years. I would like to at least put out a few more albums and tour, but again music right now is not in the best state with all of the rap and Disney shit being the biggest form of music right now.
Hope this questions isn't too personal but being a Christian involved in playing Metal.Has this been easy or have you had some pressure put on your to play something else ?
Christianity and metal have always been tied in, ever since the days of Sabbath, Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. A lot of people at my church know that I am in a Metal band, but not really what kind, which is kind of a good thing. I don't think it is really it is a big deal that I am a Christian and also in Hecatomb, because we're not singing about Satan or anything. Most of the lyrics are about Josh's life experiences, nothing more than that really.
What is in store for the band with recordings,anything planned at the moment ?
Well we recently started recording a new track called "Child of Rape" which sounds a little bad I know, but it's not what you think it's about.
I also see you are a big fan of Sabbath,are you disgusted as much as i am about the direction Ozzy has taken over recent years.Seem like he has totally lost the plot.
Oh yeah, I'm really pissed that Ozzy sued Tony Iommi recently, that is the lowest thing he has ever done if you ask me. I actually burned some of my Ozzy shirts yesterday.
Back to the band now,has the band got a particular way to construct songs ? Do you jam a lot ?
We jam once a week because the guys have jobs, and I don't. Me and Ian will sometimes just mess around and come up with a killer riff every now and then, just yesterday we came up with two new riffs for a new song.
What about influences,what bands inspire the band the most ?
Our influences range a great deal. for instance one of my favorite bands are The Beatles, yet we all listen to stuff like Katatonia, Pentagram, Venom, Immortal, Darkthrone, Besatt, Emperor, Mayhem, Sabbath, Burzum etc. so to round up our influences I'd say something along the lines of Black and Doom Metal with a hint of Death Metal.
Do you see the band re-locating in the future ?
I don't know about that yet, TN is our home.
OK,thanks again for this interview.Any final words for the readers ?
All I have to say is STAY METAL. haha and listen to Hecatomb hah.