August 30, 2024 • 24 mins
Kevin sits down and talks with a couple of members from technical deathcore band THE LAST KING! These guys definitely know how to shred, and their new vocalist fits right in place with their sound. Be sure to check out THE LAST KING!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, guys, welcome back to another episode of the podcast.
My name is Kevin pell Man. I love talking to bands.
Rather it be at a big festival, live or just
kind of one on one like this where I have
the whole band, it doesn't matter. I love talking to bands.
I love being able to get more information out about bands.
Maybe you can discover said bands. And that's what we're
kind of doing today. I got another heavy band for
you here. They've been around a little bit, they got
(00:22):
some albums out. We're talking about a new album today too.
I have the Last King, we have Andrew and Jack.
How we doing, guys, Hey, how we doing?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good to talk to you. Thanks for having us.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Absolutely for us. Happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
I see the Black Dell You Murder poster in the background.
Are you excited about the new album?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Oh my god, dude? Excited?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
As an understatement, Black Dollary is my favorite band, big
influence for TLK as well. Actually, but yeah, I you know,
I love everything they put out. Obviously, the news about
Trevor was devastating for ye most of us, but you know,
based on a couple of singles they put out and
based on seeing them live last year, I don't think
(01:03):
they're going anywhere.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
For a while, Brian has been absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Killing it, and that's actually what they're still there. That's
actually what the entire podcast is gonna best. So now
we're gonna be talking about the Black Dellu Murder for
the next half out. I'm just kidding. We're talking to
the last King. So we have Andrew and Jack. What
do you guys do in the band?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I am the bass player on the vocalist of the band.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
And have you guys been in the band since the beginning?
Have you guys joined later? What's going on with that?
Speaker 4 (01:27):
So the only member who's been in the band since
the beginning is Brett. Unfortunately, Brent was not able to
be here tonight because he just got his wisdom teeth
taken out. So he's having a lot more fun than
we are, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I remember that that was fun. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
No, Brett founded the band about ten years ago with
some of his friends from high school.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Carried the band into college.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I joined about seven years ago, so I'm the second
oldest person in the band, I guess, or at least
as far as ten year goes.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I joined in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
I joined when you know, Brett sold me tickets to
a show and I came and I saw TLK with
their lineup back then.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
And I was very impressed.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
They were the only local band that I enjoyed the
entire show, and it was like Summer Slaughter that year
with Black Dolly headlining, by the way, but they were
the only local band that I liked. And about a
month later, I see that they're looking for a bassist
based around Wooster, Massachusetts to play a couple of shows.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
And I'm a bassist who was.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Living in Worcester, Massachusetts at the time, so I, you know,
I was the first person to respond. I showed up,
I knew the songs, and here we are, like seven
years later.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I bet it doesn't feel like seven years.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
It does not, especially not with you know that casual
pause that the entire world took a couple of years.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Ago, Andrew, how about you?
Speaker 5 (02:56):
And that's when I joined. I joined on twenty twenty
when the whole world was going to show it. So
they had a vocalists when they were writing a new album, uh,
the last album that we just released, the New Age,
and their vocals had quit, kind of leaving them in
the tight spot and my other band that was in
at the time was writing a new album, uh, and
(03:17):
we're kind of we're kind of stagnant. So they reached
out to me and they're like, hey, you know, if
you like what you hear, you know, if you want
to be a part of it, you know.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So be it.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
And I just kind of gave the album to listen
to at the time and then we kind of I
threw my vocals on the track and the rest is
pretty much history. And I was like four years ago.
It's is pretty uh, pretty hard to believe already.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
It does fly by, and I was jamming out to
album before you know, we hopped on here sounds fantastic.
So I do want to know, how about more about
the Calling from God's album? What was really the creative
process behind this album?
Speaker 4 (03:58):
So this one was a little tough because you know,
we kind of made it during a pandemic, so like
the world kind of went to shit. Yeah, right around
twenty twenty, which was when we were like in the
process of finishing up The New Age and releasing that
and everything. But at that point we had already been
(04:18):
writing for this new album, Calling from Gods. But the
problem was that, you know, we were a few shows
that we were able to play around them were in
support of the New Age, and so whenever we got together,
which was not super frequently, we were jamming songs from
the New Age that we had to learn for shows.
So we didn't have a lot of time to jam
(04:41):
these songs together as a group before we really hit
the studio.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
So we had the.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Songs down pat like, we had the songs written out
in guitar pro and that was kind of the creative
process was, you know, me and the two guitarists, Bret
and Chance, we were just kind of popping files back
and forth amongst each other, and then Tony our drummer
as he joined late during the making of this album,
(05:11):
but we were just kind of tossing tracks back and
forth while Drew was coming up with the lyrics and everything.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
But the first time we really put a lot of
these songs together was when we were in the studio
making this happen.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
And you know, we had our producer Ian who was
kind of helping put everything together.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
But due to the.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Fact that we were trying to make it during a pandemic,
it was kind of a long and arduous process. Of
finding time we could all get together at the studio
we recorded in Westfield, mass At the same studios a
few pretty big metalcore albums were recorded there, so we
had the opportunity and we went with it, and it
(05:53):
was great. I'm glad we did it, but it was
it was a long drive for all this, let's say.
So it was tough schedule time to really get together
and work on the album. And so that's why that's
kind of what I mean when I say like the
album kind of came together as we were reporting it
and making it, because, like I know, a lot of
my parts as the bassis, I usually, you know, come
(06:15):
up with whatever based on the guitar pros that I'm saying,
but when you try to play along with a real
reported instrument, things don't always.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Sound the same.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
And so I was kind of tweaking a lot of
my parts on the fly to try to match how
the guitars were playing, and ultimately I think it turned
out pretty well. But you know, it was not easy
trying to make this happen. During the time that we
tried to make it happen.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Let's say, at what point did it become easier.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Probably once we started getting together more often once a
lot of the like social distancing had kind of restricted
a little bit and we were able to actually get
together in person. And then as the song started to
take shape, like as we had like Demo one and
Demo two, et cetera, like as we started hearing how
(07:09):
the songs came out in person, that was what made
it easier to be like, oh, okay, or at least for me,
I was like, Okay, hearing the real guitars is what
basically I need to make the best baslines that I can.
But yeah, really hearing them come together with real instruments,
I think is really the turning point, at least from
(07:29):
my point of view. And so I think this next
time around, we're going to try to get some like
demos pre recorded before we hit the studio.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Kind of a lesson to learned type thing there. But
again I have of how it turned out.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
I was about to say, every recording, every get together,
every time frame that we're talking about is a learning
experience for artists. You guys went through the pandemic. Hopefully
we never do that up again, but if you do,
guess you got it down.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, definitely know what to do that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Andrew, what's your take on this? You came in during
pandemic write some lyrics. What happened there?
Speaker 5 (08:12):
So this album was the first album actually wrote all
my original lyrics. On the last album, it was Jack
who made the lyrics for that album, which was convenient
and it definitely tested me. But so for this album,
I wrote all the lyrics from start to finish, and
I just kind of drew inspiration from what was kind
of going on in the world at the time, or
(08:32):
you know, I'm a big fan of horror, so if
I was watching a horror movie, you know, I would
kind of you know, transpiration from that as well. We
have a song called Ancient Master, and that song is
basically about the Collector. Have you ever seen that that
horror flick or kind of thrower? I guess that songs
basically about that movie. So I mean, yeah, I mean
(08:54):
the whole process it was difficult. It was it was
fun though. I loved every second of it, especially being
in the studio like that. You know, some of my
favorite bands have recorded in or some of their first
albums actually made it somewhere.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
You know. It was just kind of a surreal moment.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
It's kind of being one of those vocal boosts that
you know, like Howard Jones or Jesse Leach have recorded
down their vocals in right. So, but overall, I mean,
I'm very impressed and pleased with the way the record
came out.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
And we had thought every time we got together, right,
we had some fun times.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
And you said the studio was in Massachusetts, right correct? Yeah,
So Massachusetts to me, man, I love that place. I'm
a big dunkin Donuts fan, and I'll tell you what,
there's no shortage of dunkin Donuts in Massachusetts. So I
want to know from you guys, where are some of
your favorite tracks off of this new album and why?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
So?
Speaker 5 (09:54):
My favorite tracks would definitely be Signs of the Goop
and Applying Demise, just the way that this catches you,
the groove of the song, the way my vocals hit
you know, I feel like I did a really really
good job in the vocal performance on those that kind
of diet different styles that I don't normally do.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
Well, I'm very impressed and pleased with those. With those
two songs, i'd.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Say Plotting for Demise as well, And then I would
also say Ancient Master as well as the final track,
the instrumental, because I think those three are where.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
The instruments kind of shine the most.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Like, I'm really proud of the lines I wrote for
those three songs. We all kind of knocked it out
of the park on those three, and I think instrumentally
they're the most well written tracks on the record. So
I know it's kind of cheating thinking three when we
only have eight, but I'm gonna do it anyway.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Talking to the Last King right now and these guys Rule,
they got a new album out right now, and I'm
talking to Andrew and Jack, so we're talking about musical
influences now. We were talking about Black Value Murder the
very beginning. I want to start with Andrew, and They're
gonna go to Jack. Tell me about some of your
musical influence, rather it be as a whole musically or
(11:10):
vocally or whatever.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Sure, sure, So definitely Black Eye Murder Trevor was a
huge insoration of mine. I tried to, you know, get
my vocal pitches and style just like his, you know.
And definitely Randy blythe I love the way he pronounces
for much every word, you know, you can really understand
his vocals Phil Boseman White Chapel.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
You know another one. I love C. J.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
McMahon from Diyara's Murder. You know, all all those guys
are like huge influences of mine. I love the the
raw energy and power that they have behind their vocals,
and I try to implement that, you know, is best
I can.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
And I think what makes you stand out is that
we can actually understand every word that you're saying. And
I think that's a big trademark of like Trevor and
Randy specifically, Like they are very easy to understand, at
least as far.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
As ours vocals though.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
And you know, I think that's one of the things
we love about your vocal styles that we can understand it.
It's not the same, it's not you know, same kind
of noises that every other death Corp band is making.
Like it's bringing something fresh to the table, right, appreciate it, so, Jack.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
How about you? How long have you been playing bass?
What kind of bass do you play? And what are
some of your favorite bass players.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
I've been playing bass for about twenty years now, which
makes me feel old, but yeah, most of my life
I've been playing my I was turned onto the instrument
by the fact that my aunt, who I thought was
super cool and still do, she started playing the bass
right around the same time my parents showed me Victor Wooten.
(12:49):
And so between those two things, I really wanted to
become a bass player, and so I got voked.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
On it immediately, and you know, I've been doing.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
It ever since. What kind of basses do I play?
I only have one four string bass.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I have eight basses right now, well, only one of
them is a four strings. I play mostly extended.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Most of them are keyesels as well. I really like
the Keyesel guitar. Brandy as a whole does Actually we
all have multiple easels. I have four, but then I
also have a couple other basses that I've just accumulated
over the years.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
And then yeah, as far as my.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
Influences as far as players go, I mentioned Victor Wooten.
He's probably my biggest influence overall, just because he introduced
me to the love of the mas guitar, and like,
I'm still trying to emulate some of the stuff that
he was playing that I was listening to when I
was a kid, and it's probably going to give me
something to work out for my entire life. But you know,
(13:57):
I just really appreciate like the different techniques he brings
to the table, and then how humble he is about
it too, Like I've heard so many stories about him
being at Berkeley and just being like the nicest guy
you'll ever meet. And he does a lot of jam
sessions that I want to try to sneak into at
some point. But yeah, and then as far as metal
(14:17):
players go, probably Alex Webster from Cannibal.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Corpse is a big one. Steve Harris from Iron Maiden
was a big one.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
He's what got me really into like playing fast and
using the three finger technique that I use a lot.
And then guys like Nicktions I'm not going to try
to pronounce this last name, Niki Shinz from Job for
a Cowboy, cephal at Carnage, Killian Dwart from Abiotic Scale,
the Summit, guys like that, Evan Brewer from The Faceless
(14:51):
and Anthios and Fallujah. Now, like those guys are kind
of taking the techniques that I really love about Victor
Bluten and they're bringing it to the metal scene. And
because of that kind of I really enjoy the plane
that they do. I actually took lessons from both Killian
and Nick, and they're both.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Great dudes, great players.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Really learned a lot, Like I finally am starting to
get the hang of some of these crazy slap techniques
that I didn't understand for about fifteen years.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
And finally kind of getting a hang of it thanks
to those guys.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
You finally had that aha moment.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
It really is like I was in a lesson with
Niki Shinz and I just had the ahabam, but I
felt a hit.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I was like, I finally understand this, So I was like,
thank you, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
I ask about the influences because you can definitely hear
these influences coming through on this record. So fantastic influence
is fantastic bands of bands here behind the scenes stuff here.
What's something that bands might not know about the band?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yeah, sure, I'd say one thing is that we we
all live ritty far apart from one another, and that
we all have pretty active like day jobs and careers
and everything. So that's part of the reason why it's
so hard for us to get together. So like, I'm
an engineer, drews and rufer Brett is a our salesman
(16:19):
chance as a plumber, and Tony I think works in
a warehouse, so we're all very busy with that. And
then we have two guys in New Hampshire, two guys
in Massachusetts, and then Drew all the way down in
Rhode Island. Yeah wow, other New England represent But yeah,
that's something that you don't really see behind the scenes.
(16:40):
Like every time we get together is like a monumental
event in and of itself. It really get shocked because,
I we love getting together, but it's like we only
really are able to do it when we need to.
And then when we get together, it's like all we
want to do is hang out because we never get
to see each other.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
And so it's.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
So true, so true.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Yeah, So like a lot of bands will practice every
single week, and like we used to do that back
in the day, but like we just can't do that anymore.
Like we really just kind of our work on our
own time, and when we get together whenever we can,
we're kind of just expected to know our stuff and
make it happen, and you know we atlease do.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Now you're probably gonna tell me yes. I'll be very
surprised if you tell me no. So when you guys
do get together. I'm guessing each of you individually practice
somehow at home, and then when you get together you're like, oh, yeah,
we do all know the songs? Heck, yeah pretty much.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, let me hit the nail right on the head.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Yeah, otherwise be a very big waste of time, right exactly.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
I'm always amazed on how tight we are. I'm just like,
it's like a fifty to fifty shot with then know
the song or not know the song. But I'm always
amazed every single time. And I've my other band that
I was in, you know, we practice, you know, every Thursday,
you know, once a week and whatnot. And then you
know with the with the Last King, well we practice
(18:06):
like once a month. Like, like I said again, I'm
still always amazing how tight we are.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Ye the busy season too exactly.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Well, if there's a will, there's a way, and you
guys approved that. So with Calling from God's out, Now,
what's next for the last game.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
I think we're gonna film a music video relatively shortly
and hopefully release it before the end of years exactly.
Be the title track of the album Calling from Gods.
So we'll be releasing that song. I mean, it's early released,
but we'll be attaching a music video with that song.
That's on the agenda if it gets released at the
end of year, that's that's the plan.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
If that happens, who knows, you will see.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
As far as that, I mean, we'd love to do
more shows, you know, let to do maybe a small
tour on on the East Coast. That'd be something of
networks or a goal of ours we want to accomplish.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
I mean, you have anything else to add, Jack, Yeah, I.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Mean, we have one more show lined up for this year.
It's October fifth and Connecticut. We're part of the Plagued
by Birth festival that's going on that Friday and Saturday.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
That's the last currently booked show for the year.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
And then, yeah, we were usually a little bit.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Quieter during the winter months, but you know, we're going
to be using that time or ear least I am,
to be kind of working on some new music.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
We've already started doing.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
We have I think already about four or five songs
that are kind of in the songwriting stage, and like
I said, what I would like to do this time
around is really start trying to retort some demos for
these that we can use as a reference before.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
We really like bring in a producer, So that's.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
Probably what we'll be doing mostly during the winter time
and then yeah, probably comes spring summer next year. Yeah,
hopefully more shows. A smaller tour would be ideal, with
something a little longer than a weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Great, but you know, again, we're life.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Kind of throws curve balls at us too, so we're gonna,
you know, just take it one day at a time
and either way, we're gonna be working in the background
as we always are.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
So the grind never stops, honestly, and you know you
gotta keep going.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yeah, it never stops.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
But I don't think we'd have it any other way.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yo.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
We wouldn't do this if we didn't enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Yeah, of course, of course.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So we have everything kind of wrapped up. As far
as what's coming next with you guys. You guys have
a new album coming out. Do you guys have any
advice for bands who either are just starting out want
to move to the next level. I asked this question
for every band, no matter it be just that Incarceration
(20:51):
fest with a lot of bigger bands, bands have just
started out themselves. You guys have had, however, many years
of collected experience and every answer is different. So any
advice from you guys.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Yeah, i'd say patients is key.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Patience and uh, you know, definitely promoting as much as
you can collectively, working as a whole, so it's not
just some one sole member of the band. Uh, everyone
is important, not just one guy. Everyone needs to contribute to,
you know, pushing the band, you know, this way, you
know that member doesn't feel like it's all on his shoulders,
you know, And definitely being open minded and trying to
(21:31):
Communication is definitely key. Communications is like the rule of
all you that definitely communicate. You need to have a
good communication.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Absolutely, and honestly it's about finding a group of guys
that you're willing to like kind of put this work
into because yeah, it's.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
It's impossible to succeed with just one guy doing the
brunt of the work.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
Like it does at least to some extent, have to
be a mutual thing. And if you're not doing it
with guys that you don't like or where it's struggle
to like kind of get everything to flow together cohesively
like that, Like that's how bad blood happens.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
And nobody wants that.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Like, I think at the end of the day, what
makes TLK work so well is that, like we're all
buts and like I said, when we get together, it's
almost hard to get anything actually done because we just
want to hang out. So like that's something that is
more important than you think. And like generally speaking to
just like, you know, don't be a jerk. We'll work
(22:33):
with a jerk. Yeah, Like Drew said, be open minded,
be willing to work with people, be willing to listen
to ideas that aren't yours, like don't get like offended
or like don't fight people or anything like, like we're
all just kind of in this together, and like unfortunately
you got to learn to work with like all sorts
(22:53):
of people.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
So very well said from both of you. Be patient,
be a good person, and like the blockdown got it?
Speaker 3 (23:01):
So no, that's basically it. Yeah, you nail it.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Any final words you guys want to say?
Speaker 5 (23:06):
The bands, anybody who's checked this out, checked out the band,
gave it a like or stream or you know, shared
it with you know, their family or friends or whatever.
You know, that goes a long way, you know, and
we thank every single one of you guys. You know,
means a lot to everybody in the band and especially
me too, So.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Thank you Andrew, Jack. It's been a pleasure and really
enjoyed talking to you guys. I'm actually going to continue
talking to you guys off air. So we have Andrew
and Jack from The Last King. These guys rule. It's
a heavy band and I love heavy music and hopefully
you do too. If you haven't checked them out, well
they definitely put in the work. So there's really no excuse.
(23:47):
If you're a musician yourself and you've got a group
of guys, group of whoever, and you want to kind
of get together and have fun, well, these guys prove
that you can do it, even if it's once a month.
A new album out right now, call it Call from
God's It's heavy, it's awesome. Go check it out, Go
check out The Last King. And hey, thanks for checking
out this episode of the podcast. Appreciate it. As always,
we'll see you next time.
Hey, guys, welcome back to another episode of the podcast.
My name is Kevin pell Man. I love talking to bands.
Rather it be at a big festival, live or just
kind of one on one like this where I have
the whole band, it doesn't matter. I love talking to bands.
I love being able to get more information out about bands.
Maybe you can discover said bands. And that's what we're
kind of doing today. I got another heavy band for
you here. They've been around a little bit, they got
(00:22):
some albums out. We're talking about a new album today too.
I have the Last King, we have Andrew and Jack.
How we doing, guys, Hey, how we doing?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good to talk to you. Thanks for having us.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Absolutely for us. Happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
I see the Black Dell You Murder poster in the background.
Are you excited about the new album?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Oh my god, dude? Excited?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
As an understatement, Black Dollary is my favorite band, big
influence for TLK as well. Actually, but yeah, I you know,
I love everything they put out. Obviously, the news about
Trevor was devastating for ye most of us, but you know,
based on a couple of singles they put out and
based on seeing them live last year, I don't think
(01:03):
they're going anywhere.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
For a while, Brian has been absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Killing it, and that's actually what they're still there. That's
actually what the entire podcast is gonna best. So now
we're gonna be talking about the Black Dellu Murder for
the next half out. I'm just kidding. We're talking to
the last King. So we have Andrew and Jack. What
do you guys do in the band?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I am the bass player on the vocalist of the band.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
And have you guys been in the band since the beginning?
Have you guys joined later? What's going on with that?
Speaker 4 (01:27):
So the only member who's been in the band since
the beginning is Brett. Unfortunately, Brent was not able to
be here tonight because he just got his wisdom teeth
taken out. So he's having a lot more fun than
we are, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I remember that that was fun. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
No, Brett founded the band about ten years ago with
some of his friends from high school.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Carried the band into college.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I joined about seven years ago, so I'm the second
oldest person in the band, I guess, or at least
as far as ten year goes.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I joined in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
I joined when you know, Brett sold me tickets to
a show and I came and I saw TLK with
their lineup back then.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
And I was very impressed.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
They were the only local band that I enjoyed the
entire show, and it was like Summer Slaughter that year
with Black Dolly headlining, by the way, but they were
the only local band that I liked. And about a
month later, I see that they're looking for a bassist
based around Wooster, Massachusetts to play a couple of shows.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
And I'm a bassist who was.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Living in Worcester, Massachusetts at the time, so I, you know,
I was the first person to respond. I showed up,
I knew the songs, and here we are, like seven
years later.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I bet it doesn't feel like seven years.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
It does not, especially not with you know that casual
pause that the entire world took a couple of years.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Ago, Andrew, how about you?
Speaker 5 (02:56):
And that's when I joined. I joined on twenty twenty
when the whole world was going to show it. So
they had a vocalists when they were writing a new album, uh,
the last album that we just released, the New Age,
and their vocals had quit, kind of leaving them in
the tight spot and my other band that was in
at the time was writing a new album, uh, and
(03:17):
we're kind of we're kind of stagnant. So they reached
out to me and they're like, hey, you know, if
you like what you hear, you know, if you want
to be a part of it, you know.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So be it.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
And I just kind of gave the album to listen
to at the time and then we kind of I
threw my vocals on the track and the rest is
pretty much history. And I was like four years ago.
It's is pretty uh, pretty hard to believe already.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
It does fly by, and I was jamming out to
album before you know, we hopped on here sounds fantastic.
So I do want to know, how about more about
the Calling from God's album? What was really the creative
process behind this album?
Speaker 4 (03:58):
So this one was a little tough because you know,
we kind of made it during a pandemic, so like
the world kind of went to shit. Yeah, right around
twenty twenty, which was when we were like in the
process of finishing up The New Age and releasing that
and everything. But at that point we had already been
(04:18):
writing for this new album, Calling from Gods. But the
problem was that, you know, we were a few shows
that we were able to play around them were in
support of the New Age, and so whenever we got together,
which was not super frequently, we were jamming songs from
the New Age that we had to learn for shows.
So we didn't have a lot of time to jam
(04:41):
these songs together as a group before we really hit
the studio.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
So we had the.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Songs down pat like, we had the songs written out
in guitar pro and that was kind of the creative
process was, you know, me and the two guitarists, Bret
and Chance, we were just kind of popping files back
and forth amongst each other, and then Tony our drummer
as he joined late during the making of this album,
(05:11):
but we were just kind of tossing tracks back and
forth while Drew was coming up with the lyrics and everything.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
But the first time we really put a lot of
these songs together was when we were in the studio
making this happen.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
And you know, we had our producer Ian who was
kind of helping put everything together.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
But due to the.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Fact that we were trying to make it during a pandemic,
it was kind of a long and arduous process. Of
finding time we could all get together at the studio
we recorded in Westfield, mass At the same studios a
few pretty big metalcore albums were recorded there, so we
had the opportunity and we went with it, and it
(05:53):
was great. I'm glad we did it, but it was
it was a long drive for all this, let's say.
So it was tough schedule time to really get together
and work on the album. And so that's why that's
kind of what I mean when I say like the
album kind of came together as we were reporting it
and making it, because, like I know, a lot of
my parts as the bassis, I usually, you know, come
(06:15):
up with whatever based on the guitar pros that I'm saying,
but when you try to play along with a real
reported instrument, things don't always.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Sound the same.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
And so I was kind of tweaking a lot of
my parts on the fly to try to match how
the guitars were playing, and ultimately I think it turned
out pretty well. But you know, it was not easy
trying to make this happen. During the time that we
tried to make it happen.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Let's say, at what point did it become easier.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Probably once we started getting together more often once a
lot of the like social distancing had kind of restricted
a little bit and we were able to actually get
together in person. And then as the song started to
take shape, like as we had like Demo one and
Demo two, et cetera, like as we started hearing how
(07:09):
the songs came out in person, that was what made
it easier to be like, oh, okay, or at least for me,
I was like, Okay, hearing the real guitars is what
basically I need to make the best baslines that I can.
But yeah, really hearing them come together with real instruments,
I think is really the turning point, at least from
(07:29):
my point of view. And so I think this next
time around, we're going to try to get some like
demos pre recorded before we hit the studio.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Kind of a lesson to learned type thing there. But
again I have of how it turned out.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
I was about to say, every recording, every get together,
every time frame that we're talking about is a learning
experience for artists. You guys went through the pandemic. Hopefully
we never do that up again, but if you do,
guess you got it down.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, definitely know what to do that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Andrew, what's your take on this? You came in during
pandemic write some lyrics. What happened there?
Speaker 5 (08:12):
So this album was the first album actually wrote all
my original lyrics. On the last album, it was Jack
who made the lyrics for that album, which was convenient
and it definitely tested me. But so for this album,
I wrote all the lyrics from start to finish, and
I just kind of drew inspiration from what was kind
of going on in the world at the time, or
(08:32):
you know, I'm a big fan of horror, so if
I was watching a horror movie, you know, I would
kind of you know, transpiration from that as well. We
have a song called Ancient Master, and that song is
basically about the Collector. Have you ever seen that that
horror flick or kind of thrower? I guess that songs
basically about that movie. So I mean, yeah, I mean
(08:54):
the whole process it was difficult. It was it was
fun though. I loved every second of it, especially being
in the studio like that. You know, some of my
favorite bands have recorded in or some of their first
albums actually made it somewhere.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
You know. It was just kind of a surreal moment.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
It's kind of being one of those vocal boosts that
you know, like Howard Jones or Jesse Leach have recorded
down their vocals in right. So, but overall, I mean,
I'm very impressed and pleased with the way the record
came out.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
And we had thought every time we got together, right,
we had some fun times.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
And you said the studio was in Massachusetts, right correct? Yeah,
So Massachusetts to me, man, I love that place. I'm
a big dunkin Donuts fan, and I'll tell you what,
there's no shortage of dunkin Donuts in Massachusetts. So I
want to know from you guys, where are some of
your favorite tracks off of this new album and why?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
So?
Speaker 5 (09:54):
My favorite tracks would definitely be Signs of the Goop
and Applying Demise, just the way that this catches you,
the groove of the song, the way my vocals hit
you know, I feel like I did a really really
good job in the vocal performance on those that kind
of diet different styles that I don't normally do.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
Well, I'm very impressed and pleased with those. With those
two songs, i'd.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Say Plotting for Demise as well, And then I would
also say Ancient Master as well as the final track,
the instrumental, because I think those three are where.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
The instruments kind of shine the most.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Like, I'm really proud of the lines I wrote for
those three songs. We all kind of knocked it out
of the park on those three, and I think instrumentally
they're the most well written tracks on the record. So
I know it's kind of cheating thinking three when we
only have eight, but I'm gonna do it anyway.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Talking to the Last King right now and these guys Rule,
they got a new album out right now, and I'm
talking to Andrew and Jack, so we're talking about musical
influences now. We were talking about Black Value Murder the
very beginning. I want to start with Andrew, and They're
gonna go to Jack. Tell me about some of your
musical influence, rather it be as a whole musically or
(11:10):
vocally or whatever.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Sure, sure, So definitely Black Eye Murder Trevor was a
huge insoration of mine. I tried to, you know, get
my vocal pitches and style just like his, you know.
And definitely Randy blythe I love the way he pronounces
for much every word, you know, you can really understand
his vocals Phil Boseman White Chapel.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
You know another one. I love C. J.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
McMahon from Diyara's Murder. You know, all all those guys
are like huge influences of mine. I love the the
raw energy and power that they have behind their vocals,
and I try to implement that, you know, is best
I can.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
And I think what makes you stand out is that
we can actually understand every word that you're saying. And
I think that's a big trademark of like Trevor and
Randy specifically, Like they are very easy to understand, at
least as far.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
As ours vocals though.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
And you know, I think that's one of the things
we love about your vocal styles that we can understand it.
It's not the same, it's not you know, same kind
of noises that every other death Corp band is making.
Like it's bringing something fresh to the table, right, appreciate it, so, Jack.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
How about you? How long have you been playing bass?
What kind of bass do you play? And what are
some of your favorite bass players.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
I've been playing bass for about twenty years now, which
makes me feel old, but yeah, most of my life
I've been playing my I was turned onto the instrument
by the fact that my aunt, who I thought was
super cool and still do, she started playing the bass
right around the same time my parents showed me Victor Wooten.
(12:49):
And so between those two things, I really wanted to
become a bass player, and so I got voked.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
On it immediately, and you know, I've been doing.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
It ever since. What kind of basses do I play?
I only have one four string bass.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I have eight basses right now, well, only one of
them is a four strings. I play mostly extended.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Most of them are keyesels as well. I really like
the Keyesel guitar. Brandy as a whole does Actually we
all have multiple easels. I have four, but then I
also have a couple other basses that I've just accumulated
over the years.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
And then yeah, as far as my.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
Influences as far as players go, I mentioned Victor Wooten.
He's probably my biggest influence overall, just because he introduced
me to the love of the mas guitar, and like,
I'm still trying to emulate some of the stuff that
he was playing that I was listening to when I
was a kid, and it's probably going to give me
something to work out for my entire life. But you know,
(13:57):
I just really appreciate like the different techniques he brings
to the table, and then how humble he is about
it too, Like I've heard so many stories about him
being at Berkeley and just being like the nicest guy
you'll ever meet. And he does a lot of jam
sessions that I want to try to sneak into at
some point. But yeah, and then as far as metal
(14:17):
players go, probably Alex Webster from Cannibal.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Corpse is a big one. Steve Harris from Iron Maiden
was a big one.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
He's what got me really into like playing fast and
using the three finger technique that I use a lot.
And then guys like Nicktions I'm not going to try
to pronounce this last name, Niki Shinz from Job for
a Cowboy, cephal at Carnage, Killian Dwart from Abiotic Scale,
the Summit, guys like that, Evan Brewer from The Faceless
(14:51):
and Anthios and Fallujah. Now, like those guys are kind
of taking the techniques that I really love about Victor
Bluten and they're bringing it to the metal scene. And
because of that kind of I really enjoy the plane
that they do. I actually took lessons from both Killian
and Nick, and they're both.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Great dudes, great players.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Really learned a lot, Like I finally am starting to
get the hang of some of these crazy slap techniques
that I didn't understand for about fifteen years.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
And finally kind of getting a hang of it thanks
to those guys.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
You finally had that aha moment.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
It really is like I was in a lesson with
Niki Shinz and I just had the ahabam, but I
felt a hit.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I was like, I finally understand this, So I was like,
thank you, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
I ask about the influences because you can definitely hear
these influences coming through on this record. So fantastic influence
is fantastic bands of bands here behind the scenes stuff here.
What's something that bands might not know about the band?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yeah, sure, I'd say one thing is that we we
all live ritty far apart from one another, and that
we all have pretty active like day jobs and careers
and everything. So that's part of the reason why it's
so hard for us to get together. So like, I'm
an engineer, drews and rufer Brett is a our salesman
(16:19):
chance as a plumber, and Tony I think works in
a warehouse, so we're all very busy with that. And
then we have two guys in New Hampshire, two guys
in Massachusetts, and then Drew all the way down in
Rhode Island. Yeah wow, other New England represent But yeah,
that's something that you don't really see behind the scenes.
(16:40):
Like every time we get together is like a monumental
event in and of itself. It really get shocked because,
I we love getting together, but it's like we only
really are able to do it when we need to.
And then when we get together, it's like all we
want to do is hang out because we never get
to see each other.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
And so it's.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
So true, so true.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Yeah, So like a lot of bands will practice every
single week, and like we used to do that back
in the day, but like we just can't do that anymore.
Like we really just kind of our work on our
own time, and when we get together whenever we can,
we're kind of just expected to know our stuff and
make it happen, and you know we atlease do.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Now you're probably gonna tell me yes. I'll be very
surprised if you tell me no. So when you guys
do get together. I'm guessing each of you individually practice
somehow at home, and then when you get together you're like, oh, yeah,
we do all know the songs? Heck, yeah pretty much.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, let me hit the nail right on the head.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Yeah, otherwise be a very big waste of time, right exactly.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
I'm always amazed on how tight we are. I'm just like,
it's like a fifty to fifty shot with then know
the song or not know the song. But I'm always
amazed every single time. And I've my other band that
I was in, you know, we practice, you know, every Thursday,
you know, once a week and whatnot. And then you
know with the with the Last King, well we practice
(18:06):
like once a month. Like, like I said again, I'm
still always amazing how tight we are.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Ye the busy season too exactly.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Well, if there's a will, there's a way, and you
guys approved that. So with Calling from God's out, Now,
what's next for the last game.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
I think we're gonna film a music video relatively shortly
and hopefully release it before the end of years exactly.
Be the title track of the album Calling from Gods.
So we'll be releasing that song. I mean, it's early released,
but we'll be attaching a music video with that song.
That's on the agenda if it gets released at the
end of year, that's that's the plan.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
If that happens, who knows, you will see.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
As far as that, I mean, we'd love to do
more shows, you know, let to do maybe a small
tour on on the East Coast. That'd be something of
networks or a goal of ours we want to accomplish.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
I mean, you have anything else to add, Jack, Yeah, I.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Mean, we have one more show lined up for this year.
It's October fifth and Connecticut. We're part of the Plagued
by Birth festival that's going on that Friday and Saturday.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
That's the last currently booked show for the year.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
And then, yeah, we were usually a little bit.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Quieter during the winter months, but you know, we're going
to be using that time or ear least I am,
to be kind of working on some new music.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
We've already started doing.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
We have I think already about four or five songs
that are kind of in the songwriting stage, and like
I said, what I would like to do this time
around is really start trying to retort some demos for
these that we can use as a reference before.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
We really like bring in a producer, So that's.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
Probably what we'll be doing mostly during the winter time
and then yeah, probably comes spring summer next year. Yeah,
hopefully more shows. A smaller tour would be ideal, with
something a little longer than a weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Great, but you know, again, we're life.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Kind of throws curve balls at us too, so we're gonna,
you know, just take it one day at a time
and either way, we're gonna be working in the background
as we always are.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
So the grind never stops, honestly, and you know you
gotta keep going.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yeah, it never stops.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
But I don't think we'd have it any other way.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yo.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
We wouldn't do this if we didn't enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Yeah, of course, of course.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So we have everything kind of wrapped up. As far
as what's coming next with you guys. You guys have
a new album coming out. Do you guys have any
advice for bands who either are just starting out want
to move to the next level. I asked this question
for every band, no matter it be just that Incarceration
(20:51):
fest with a lot of bigger bands, bands have just
started out themselves. You guys have had, however, many years
of collected experience and every answer is different. So any
advice from you guys.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Yeah, i'd say patients is key.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Patience and uh, you know, definitely promoting as much as
you can collectively, working as a whole, so it's not
just some one sole member of the band. Uh, everyone
is important, not just one guy. Everyone needs to contribute to,
you know, pushing the band, you know, this way, you
know that member doesn't feel like it's all on his shoulders,
you know, And definitely being open minded and trying to
(21:31):
Communication is definitely key. Communications is like the rule of
all you that definitely communicate. You need to have a
good communication.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Absolutely, and honestly it's about finding a group of guys
that you're willing to like kind of put this work
into because yeah, it's.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
It's impossible to succeed with just one guy doing the
brunt of the work.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
Like it does at least to some extent, have to
be a mutual thing. And if you're not doing it
with guys that you don't like or where it's struggle
to like kind of get everything to flow together cohesively
like that, Like that's how bad blood happens.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
And nobody wants that.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Like, I think at the end of the day, what
makes TLK work so well is that, like we're all
buts and like I said, when we get together, it's
almost hard to get anything actually done because we just
want to hang out. So like that's something that is
more important than you think. And like generally speaking to
just like, you know, don't be a jerk. We'll work
(22:33):
with a jerk. Yeah, Like Drew said, be open minded,
be willing to work with people, be willing to listen
to ideas that aren't yours, like don't get like offended
or like don't fight people or anything like, like we're
all just kind of in this together, and like unfortunately
you got to learn to work with like all sorts
(22:53):
of people.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
So very well said from both of you. Be patient,
be a good person, and like the blockdown got it?
Speaker 3 (23:01):
So no, that's basically it. Yeah, you nail it.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Any final words you guys want to say?
Speaker 5 (23:06):
The bands, anybody who's checked this out, checked out the band,
gave it a like or stream or you know, shared
it with you know, their family or friends or whatever.
You know, that goes a long way, you know, and
we thank every single one of you guys. You know,
means a lot to everybody in the band and especially
me too, So.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Thank you Andrew, Jack. It's been a pleasure and really
enjoyed talking to you guys. I'm actually going to continue
talking to you guys off air. So we have Andrew
and Jack from The Last King. These guys rule. It's
a heavy band and I love heavy music and hopefully
you do too. If you haven't checked them out, well
they definitely put in the work. So there's really no excuse.
(23:47):
If you're a musician yourself and you've got a group
of guys, group of whoever, and you want to kind
of get together and have fun, well, these guys prove
that you can do it, even if it's once a month.
A new album out right now, call it Call from
God's It's heavy, it's awesome. Go check it out, Go
check out The Last King. And hey, thanks for checking
out this episode of the podcast. Appreciate it. As always,
we'll see you next time.
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