Chasma Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days? Well, we just signed a three deal contract with Candlelight Records after completing our contract with Moribund Records. We are extremely pumped to work with a label of this caliber. We play shows strategically in and out of town and it looks like we will have a busy summer. We also just finished recording our 4th full length entitled "Dreamwoven". 

2.So far you have released a single, demo and 2 albums, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical sound that had presented on all of those recordings? Every album we make is the most aesthetically advanced product we are able to create at the time. Obviously, they progress musically as we do personally. The product is of our hearts and minds and the ratios are never the same.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music? Lyrically the band is inspired by the law of One. We are lied to as humans our entire lives about the history of our species and the origins of life and spirit, so we write lyrics that clarify truths that are hidden from the layman. 

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Chasma'? The name literally means "a long, steep depression" and pertains to other-planetary surfaces. We were really into the cosmos at the time, and I was personally very depressed, so the name just kind of presented itself to us. It made a lot of sense to us at the time and still does, though our perception of it has evolved a lot in the last 6 years. 

5.The band was a duo for a long time, what was the decision behind finding a third member? The band has never been a duo, although we have had 2 guitar players before we found the final, Brandon Gordon.

6.Has the band done any live shows or is this a studio project? We have played many, many live shows with the likes of Wolves in the Throne Room, Marduk, Junius, Ash Borer, Abigail Williams, Fell Voices, Moonspell, Bloody Panda, etc.

7.Recently The Path Less Traveled re-issued your 2013 album, how would you compare working with them to Moribund the label that had originally released the album? Honestly, we don't even have the release in our hands yet so it would be impossible to compare the two. 

8.According to both the Metal Archives and Facebook pages the band is currently signed to Candlelight Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this deal? The deal was in the works for almost a year and we finally signed the contract last winter. Our next album "Omega Theorian" comes out on July 7th, 2014. As I said earlier, it is a three album deal.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal? Most people in general shit on us for either being "hipster" or not being true to the original stylings of black metal. We don't want to sound like Darkthrone and we don't wear corpse paint, if that makes us hipsters, so be it. We want to push this type of extreme music to new, bright places that it has not been led to before. If we cared what metal reviewers thought we would have disbanded a long time ago. We do this for our universe and ourselves.

10.Are any of the other band members involved with any other musical projects these days? We used to be young guys that were all in a bunch of bands, but life has led us to a place where only Chasma makes sense. If you're interested in past projects check out Aristeia, Nanda Devi, and Apparitia.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future? We will follow the path laid before us by the source of all life, the origin of all energy. We have followed thus far and there is no turning back at this point. Tomorrow holds a plethora of possibilities that may be built upon.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays? I can't speak for everyone, but musically I am touched by bands like Drudkh, Shining, Fen, Lifelover, Bauhaus, Isis, etc. We a like a lot of hip hop and black metal. I listen to a lot of 2 Chainz lately. I am a poser.

13.What are some of your non musical interests? Brandon and I are bartenders, Ryan is a Chef at an upscale French restaurant. We put a lot into our jobs and we all love what we do. We also put a lot into our relationships. I am married and about to have a child, Ryan and Brandon have awesome supportive girlfriends as well. I read a lot. Look up Wes Penre on google. 

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts? We appreciate your reaching out to us and hope our answers are satisfactory. We put our life forces into this music and the themes/atmospheres involved. It has taken many years for us to get to where we are and we won't stop. We cannot stop. Thanks to all who read this as well. 

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