Showing posts with label Starving For Death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Starving For Death. Show all posts

Saturday, November 13, 2021

Starving For Death Interview

 

For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the solo project?


First or all, thanks a lot for doing this interview, it’s a great honor. Starving For Death was a project that was born ages ago and it started being just an acoustic (using some distortion for the guitar) and a voice that also had distortion and it was made as a Depressive/Suicidal Poetry project. I’m talking about when MySpace was born. But throughout time it was been more like an Experimental project because the sound is different with every album I’ve released.


Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ form the stuff you have released in the past?


This last release was actually a compilation made by Xivu Arath Productions and contains a bit of the most recent albums I’ve released. In this album you will see how much of an experiment this project is. DSBM tracks to more kind of gothic and some of them more simple with just guitars, vocals, bass and drums.


You also have a few other solo projects, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Starving For Death' that you are not able to do with your other groups?


Like I mentioned, Starving For Death is more like my experimental project. The other projects have their inspiration and genre very well defined, but with Starving For Death I never really know what I will do until I take my guitar and start recording. I can’t say I’m an experience musician because my music is quite simple in terms of guitar riffs (to mention one), but I guess that’s the beauty of SFD, that you never know what the next album is going to sound like. 


What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the new release and also how would you describe your progress as a songwriter over the years?


The new release is a DSBM release and focuses in the beauty of death, and also in betrayal. We live in a world where people focus more on being assholes, rather than focusing on the beautiful things and as for me, I got inspiration on how tired I am of living in this world full of idiots and cheaters and criminals. As Death Approaches, is a song that I really like and it’s about embracing Death as it comes to take us.


From 2014 to 2019 there was no music being released with this project, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?


From 2014 to 2017 I just didn’t have any recording equipment. In 2013 I moved to China and during those years I changed workplace so, I couldn’t buy any equipment. Then in 2018 is when I started two of my other projects and focused on them more than I focused on SFD.


What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Starving For Death'/


It’s the constant hunger of wanting death to take me. As if I died but being death such beautiful passage, that I crave for more. 


Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?


This artwork was actually made by Xivu Arath Productions and I love it. A crow, often a symbol of death, standing high on a tree, surrounded by a cold and solitary forest.


With your musical projects you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?


Yes, I’m always open to work with others. I’m actually working with Star Damage as a vocalist and I’m currently working on a project with a friend from Mexico, also as the vocalist. This last project will be more thrashy-melodic-kind-of project. We will release a single some time this year if everything goes well.


9.In the last couple of years you have released a great amount of material, do you spend a great amount of your time writing and creating music?


I used to spend a lot of time but I recently started a new job and I don’t have so much time for music anymore. On the weekends is when I have time but I honestly don’t have much inspiration lately for music. I’m not sure I will be releasing something any time soon, except for the two projects with friends I mentioned above.


10.The new album was released on 'Xivu Arath Productions', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?


It’s a new label which stays true to the underground projects and bands. They focus on tapes and digital and as far as I know my album is the first one they released. They will be releasing more stuff for sure. I know the owner and I’m good friends with him and it’s not the first time I work with him. 


On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?


Not bad, I mean, like I said before, I am not a professional musician, or best said, I’m not a skilled musician so, my music is always simple. I’ve got some good comments about my music but in the end, even if it’s just a people who enjoy my music, that’s good enough for me. I’ve had great comments from people here, in China, and from people in other countries.


Can you tell us a little bit more about the other solo projects you are a part of?


Well, two of my most important projects are Winter Dynasty, which is a project inspired by Chinese Nature and Mythology. The latest release was an EP called Poems For Nature, it was released last August. And Star Devourer, is a cosmic black metal project inspired by the Cosmos, Sci-Fi and Space Horror. Last month I released an album called 01101000 01100101 01101100 01110000 which is binary code.


13.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?


I don’t aspire for much as a musician because this is just a hobby. I’d like to take one of my projects Live, but I’m not sure it’s possible. At least not any time soon. 


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?


For my projects I’ve been inspired a lot by bands like Darkspace, Mesarthim, Midnight Odyssey, Bliss Illusion. And recently I’ve been listening to old stuff from Darkthrone, Burzum, Immortal. I haven’t listened too much of the new stuff released this year, but there are really good bands being born every year.


Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in your music?


Not really, but it will probably be at some point. I can’t say I am a fan of Satanism but I do like some of this ideology. 


Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?


Well, I just want to thank you and everyone else supporting my music. It’s always a great pleasure and honor to do interviews. All of my discography is in Bandcamp for Name your price so, if you think it’s worth it, you can pay or get it for free. Thanks a lot!

Bandcamp


Saturday, October 30, 2021

Starving For Death/An Unkindness Of Ravens/Xivu Arath Producitons/2021 Full Length Review

 


  Starving  For  Death  are  a  solo  project  from  China  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "An  Unkindness  Of  Ravens"  which  was  released  by  Xivu  Arath  Productions.


  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  On  some  of  the  tracks  the  vocals  also  go  for  a  more  deep  and  grim  approach  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.


  Spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  the  tracks  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  tragic  sounding  keyboards  onto  the  album  as  well  as  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  it  is  utilized,  as  the  recording  progresses  a  brief  use  of  operatic  female  vocals  are  also  added  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  hopelessness',  death,  depression,  darkness  and  betrayal  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  Starving  For  Death  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Landscapes  Of  Solitude  And  Despair"  "Winter  We  Shall  Fear"  "As  Death  Approaches"  and  "Dark  Winter  Queen".  8/5  out  of  10.


Bandcamp