Get ready to go inside the dark and heavy world of Post Death Soundtrack. This band originated in Vancouver with the members as Stephen Moore and Jon Ireson; they are masters of doom, grunge, hardcore, and thrash metal.
Their latest album, “Veil Lifter,” looks quite different from their previous ones to say the least. Infused with feelings of Alice in Chains and Russian Circles, Post Death Soundtrack’s fourth full-length album offers an intense, live-sounding experience which should indeed be loved by fans of heavy music.
With strong, passionate vocals supported by distorted instruments, Moore guides the listeners through a perspective of self-actualization, struggle, and internal darkness. Notable tracks such as ‘Molotov Smile’ and ‘Hyena Dream’ are good examples of the way in which the band meshes heavy chug with trance-inducing rhythms.
The outcome is an atmosphere that will both remind listeners of some of the best parts of classic video games and feel futuristic and contemporary. Apart from music, “Veil Lifter” addresses issues of mental disorder and internal crisis, making it more than just songs but telling a story. From the conception of “Veil Lifter” to discovering what fuels Post Death Soundtrack, and their path from pain to triumph, let’s learn more about the band and the music.
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What is your stage name?
Post Death Soundtrack
Is there a story behind your stage name?
It has several meanings, like most of the lyrics, one being that your Post Death Soundtrack is the energetic mark you leave after you die. The other could be that this is music for the dead, for those who die to the world.
Where do you find inspiration?
Life experience, trauma, struggle, loss, perseverance and spirit. Musically, I also feel it’s important to both lean into your loves but also experience a wide range of new and different music because it can all influence you and find it’s way into your work.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
Early in life I was pretty typical in that I enjoyed music, which pretty much everyone does. However, when I was 12 or 13 and was introduced to Nirvana, I felt for the first time that I was understood. It lit a fire in me. I knew this was where I wanted to be and what I wanted to be involved with.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
No. I’m an odd duck.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
Nirvana. And as the years went by and I just became more and more enamored with everything music, I realized it was my sport. It’s the only thing I know about and do well. So I’ve pretty much based my whole life around it by running independentmusicpromotions.com for my day job.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
Originally, there was a guitar course at my school introduced and they actually let me play Smashing Pumpkins ‘Rocket’ for a test/assignment. I had a guitar teacher for a few years, but then I just veered off and started writing my own music. I was mainly interested in getting good to a certain point where I could write the riffs and ideas I wanted to.
I never cared about being a Steve Vai type of soloist, even though I respect and enjoy technical music too. For vocals, I would practice along with Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, etc over and over. It took me years to develop my voice. I probably didn’t even enjoy it until I was 28 or so, and it’s finally come into it’s own now.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
The first shows I went to were local punk/grunge shows in Oakville, Ontario. One of the first bigger bands/concerts I saw was The Tea Party, who are kind of the Led Zeppelin/The Doors of Canada. Shout out to them. I grew up on ‘Edges of Twilight’.
Also, and I don’t care if this is embarassing – one of the first concerts was Kriss Kross at Canada’s Wonderland, and I wore my Dad’s pants on backwards. Say what you want – ‘Warm it up, Kriss’ – that song still holds up! Haha
How could you describe your music?
It’s mainly metal when it comes down to it. Stylistically, my style blends doom, sludge and thrash metal with grunge, noise rock, psych rock, stoner rock and hardcore punk. I know that sounds like a lot, but I find they all go together seamlessly.
I grew up in the Calgary punk scene but listened to more grunge and alternative bands at the time. Later on I got into heavier and heavier metal, as well as the current doom and sludge scenes, which had a huge effect on me. Now, I mix it all in the gumbo and it comes out as a singular sound.
Describe your creative process.
I typically either have songs and melodies come in my head while I’m out for a walk, or sometimes even in dreams. But most often I sit at the guitar and make things up on the spot, aiming for riffs I find interesting. Once I stumble on something, I’ll either record it right away on my phone, or I’ll sing a melody and placeholder lyrics, recording that.
It has to be fresh or I risk forgetting it. I’ll revisit the files later and expand on the ideas with a fresh mind. This is how the songs come about. Often the first ideas work, including the lyrics made up on the spot. I’m not sure why it works that way. Other times I will have lyrics and full poems already written in my lyric book, so I will browse through that and set them to music.
What is your main inspiration?
My main inspiration is to put out something raw,, honest and uncensored, as that’s the only way I can be proud of it. I’m very stubborn that way. If we’re in a band and you tell me you just want to have fun and be silly, I run for the hills. I’m inspired to release serious art. And I’m constantly inspired by a really wide variety of music. I own 2,000 records.
What musician do you admire most and why?
Kurt Cobain and The Beatles. Kurt Cobain because he made his lyrics brilliantly cryptic, and as a result managed to inject more power and emotion into the music because of it. A lot of people don’t understand them, but it’s like painting a picture with lyricism as opposed to just coming out and saying ‘I’m upset’, which to me is boring.
And The Beatles because they did what they wanted, experimented to high Heaven, and completely changed the world with how far they were willing to take things. They’re unendingly brilliant.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
Yes, very much so. It was likely more spastic punk metal towards the beginning, but most of all, I’ve grown better in knowing what I’m good at and what I’m not. So I lean into my truth and what I do best, while still experimenting.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
I try to support other artists and don’t really see any competitors. I just compete with myself, aiming to do my utmost and release something stronger than my previous release. I think I’ve done that with ‘Veil Lifter’, and as I start to write towards the next album, I am aiming to create something even better, heavier, more immersive and compelling.
What are your interests outside of music?
I love meditation, philosophy, spirituality, comedy, film and food/nutrition.
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be working a job I don’t like, or possibly even be homeless.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
Working with people who don’t understand or value the marketing side of things, and who only want to make the music and then chill. It’s been a challenge to find symbiosis between people and have a project move forward in a live or business sense.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
I would do away with the feedback industry, because nobody needs feedback once the music is mixed and mastered. Their statement is complete. I would have that industry focus more on actual shares and coverage. Nobody cares what you thought about the change at 1:22 in the song.
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
It means ‘to lift the veil of ignorance and see reality as it is’, so to see reality as oneness as opposed to the illusion of duality.
What are your plans for the coming months?
I plan to continue to promote ‘Veil Lifter’, while also writing ideas and song structures to lead towards the follow up album.
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans?
I already collaborate with Casey Lewis on my work. He plays drums and really brings the songs to life, as he’s one of the top drummers in Canada. He also mixes and masters through his top tier studio, Echo Base Studios. Other than this, I have quite a few musician friends in Calgary who I plan to collaborate with on various projects. I also plan on some solo work.
What message would you like to give to your fans?
THANK YOU to anyone who bumps this shit. It means the world to me, honestly.
