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1.Hello please introduce yourselves to the readers?
LA here. Hail and thrill webzine enjoyers. Skumstrike consists of LA on strings, and ZS on vocals, with JK assisting with live bass assaults. We're all denizens of Montreal's underground metal and punk underground, though we're all blow-ins to this town. LA hails from Ireland, ZS is Singaporean, and JK hails from Newfoundland.
2.When did you first discover Metal music and who were the first bands and artists that caught your attention?Who are some of the current bands that have caught your attention that you really like?
All of us got into metal through the usual well-trod routes, teenagers looking for that thrill beyond the usual rock and punk songs that were on TV or the radio. For LA, it was finding a dusty black tape in my brother's old cassette collection that just had the words 'Slayer' penned across it. It had 'Reign in Blood' on one side, and 'South of Heaven' on the other. It was game over for me after that - especially when I got access to file sharing. In our own hometowns, we slowly started to jam with bands, working our way up to proficiency. As transplants to Montreal, we initially made contact through mutual friends and hitting shows at places like Katacombes, Brasserie Beaubien, and Fattal. Skumstrike formed around a love for bands like Venom, Inepsy, Slayer, Sabbat, and Motorhead. For current bands, we're into a wide mix of genres and bands. Active bands we're into include Hellripper, Fastkill, Nekrofilth, Hallas, Craft, and shitloads more.
3.When did the two of you first meet and was it long before you started Skumstrike? I believe the band is just the two of you would you like to find new musicians to make a full line up or do you prefer working as a duo?
As we mentioned above, we have a bassist nowadays who we work closely with. But yes, the band was originally just LA and ZS, and 'Deadly Intrusions' was recorded purely by LA and ZS. Originally we had our first jam in late 2016 after a mutual friend introduced us. Luckily, we both liked speed metal, football (actual football not American eggball) and drinking beer. Honestly, we took our time refining and improving our sound, which explains the long wait for a first album. You can hear how extremely basic our demo material is, so I think that was the right move. Our continued attendance to great shows, both metal and punk at festivals like Varning and Wings of Metal in Montreal, helped us plot a course.
4.Deadly Intrusions is the debut which was released through SelfMadeGod Rec. when did you first come in contact with this label?
After we recorded it, like most bands, we started pitching it to a list of labels we liked. I had known of SMG for years, since I attended OEF 2010, where I think I picked up a Cathether and a Stormcrow album which Karol had released. I knew it as a very solid, good quality label that was well-established in Europe. Karol really digged it right away and we were happy to start working together.
5.Do you both work on writing the music or does one member usually write everything? How long did it take to write the music for the debut full length?
The process usually consists of LA bringing in a bunch of riffs, and ZS, who is a good guitarist, providing suggestions and directions, and we ended up with something that we're both satisfied with. We like to keep things varied. Our one rule is every song has to have a working title that references a band that the riffs sounds like, and ideally includes some sexual or scatalogical innuendo. We can write pretty swiftly. We're busy working guys outside the band but get into a good productive pattern when we can.
6.Where do you draw influence for the lyrics and what are some subjects written about on the debut release?Which usually comes first the music or the lyrics?
Definitely the music first. The lyrics for this record are quite collaborative, but ZS takes the lead. Generally, this record is built around the idea of continuing mental degradation, or the steady, fear-inducing loss of mental capacity. We'll sprinkle in references to any morbid scenario that appeals to us, from cult leaders to environmental collapse. It's open season really, anything that fires our imaginations.
7.Besides the Deadly Intrusions full length are the bands previous EP's still availible for the readers to purchase?Besides physical releases does the band have any other merchandise currently availible if yes what is availible and where can the readers purchase it?
We have a fancy new run of merch which is available via our bandcamp. For older releases, you may find some copies of our older EPs in obscure distros, or possibly with our current cassette label, Caligari Records, but that's about it. You can purchase digital versions of all of our releases via our bandcamp.
8. Skumstrike comes out of Canada's Metal scene what are your thoughts of Canada's Metal scene over the years?
It's generally a pretty interesting one, and very varied. That's only natural considering the huge size of the country and the range of scenes across different cities. You have old warriors like Exciter and Razor still going, plus plenty of more extreme acts. Newish/young Canadian metal acts we really dig these days include Traveler, Metalian, Grenadier, Spectral Wound, Antidiluvian, and lots more - they span a huge range of sounds. On the punk side of things there are lots of strong bands - check out Puffer from Montreal for example. It'll stay strong because you can't keep people who are lunatics about music down, and there are so many music freaks here dying to play now that COVID isn't quite so bad.
9.Who are your all-time favorite Canadian bands and are their any new bands you could recommend to the readers?
See above! For me and JK, we're total Rush maniacs and we're still getting over Neil's departure. We all have been big Inepsy fans for a long time. That's one band we will always put on when it's drinking time.
10.What does Underground Metal mean to you?
It's a very special thing, because it's both communal and a huge factor in my friends and life experiences I've had, but also an intensely personal thing that I draw insane amounts of enjoyment from. On a more base level, it's about the magic of a great riff, alcohol, having a laugh, and banging the head that does not bang.
11.Besides working in Skumstrike do either of you currently work with other bands or solo projects? If yes please tell the readers a little about them?
LA plays in Profane Order, a separate death-black metal project with our bassist JK, that will have a new album coming out shortly. ZS has played for years with Singapore thrash band Xanadoo who are still semi-active, and more recently has started to play drums with local death metal / hardcore bands Serpent Corpse. JK also plays drums in Spectral Wound and has a number of other projects that are both active and inactive.
12.When you need to take a break from working on new music or band business what do you like to do in your free time?
I indulge in PC building and gaming, fishing, cycling, horror movies, and read a lot of news, history and non-fiction. JK is a busy man with his several bands, but is a horror movie nut, beer and wine guru, and a bit of a DIY genius. ZS is a Newcastle FC fan, Asian food lunatic, and a FIFA wizard that can take all challengers.
13.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
We really appreciate the support and interest that's been shown since 'Deadly Intrusions' came out! And also, be sure to support your local small, independent venues - your local metal and punk scene will be fucked without them. Band Contacts https://skumstrike.bandcamp.com/music https://www.facebook.com/SKUMSTRIKE/ Label Contacts https://selfmadegod.com/ https://selfmadegod.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Selfmadegod https://twitter.com/selfmadegodrec
