Interview with EXTERMINATION DAY
We had a conversation with Nate Towle. Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about EXTERMINATION DAY (Members, Starting Year etc).
Extermination Day was formed in early 2020 as more or less a basement recording project; I recorded the first demo single handedly in my basement. Shortly after, I enlisted my friend Jason Oberuc into the project, and we subsequently recorded an extended play and full length album together of songs I had written. Eventually we decided we wanted the project to turn into a live band. There was a serious attempt to do so in 2023, but he had a cancer diagnosis which at the time prevented that. Fortunately he was able to beat cancer, but he made the decision to step away from the project to pursue other life goals. His contributions to this project however cannot be understated as he was instrumental in the development of our sound. In August of this year a lineup consisting of myself, Ryan Janssen, Josh Raiken, and Evan Blasing was assembled, and this is what the current band is now.
In 2023 you have released your demo ''Demo '23''. What was the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
There was a modest response to it, it was more or less fairly informal so there wasn't press behind it or anything like that. However, a special moment for me was when the singer of Blood Farmers, Eli Brown, reached out to me to tell me that my cover of their song "St. Chibes" was really good; Blood Farmers is one of my favorite bands, so this was for sure pretty cool to hear.
Label or DIY and why?
I think DIY is important because you need to be willing to invest and stand behind whatever it is you're doing. Labels are great because they have advertising budgets, distribution, etc. Thus far we've more or less to some extent been DIY, albeit our friends at Hoove Child Records and Green Coyote Records did help with CD and Cassette releases. But we've never actually been signed to a label or under a formal contract.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
At the end of "Grip of the Grain" on our full length album, you can hear me yell "one fuckin' take" - this is in reference to the fact that Jason Oberuc did the song in one take. He's a damn good drummer and musician, no doubt.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
There is merit in all of these formats, but for me, Vinyl is king. I love seeing the artwork blown up to a larger size, the liner notes, etc. I have a turntable in my office and while I'm working I'm listening to records. For me its a lot of fun.
Your music style is heavy doom with punk elements. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Trouble, Saint Vitus, Pentagram, Witchfinder General, Blood Farmers, Cirith Ungol, Stooges, Blue Cheer, Budgie, Black Flag, Poison Idea, Motorhead, Johnny Thunders, Body Count, The Damned, The Saints, Ramones... I could go on and on. We try to incorporate as much as we can into what we are doing, we aren't trying to emulate any one artist or sound so to speak. Some newer bands we like that maybe aren't direct influences but inspire us are bands like Chubby and the Gang, Maggot Heart, and Amyl and the Sniffers.
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
In some instances you will sacrifice time spent with family or friends. In the past I've lost both due to pursuing music. Its hard to say if this is needed or not; it all depends on what your investment into the band is. When I was younger maybe it was easier to do this.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
We just had our first ever show on November 22nd, opening for Unto Others. This was great. It was a packed room, and people really enjoyed what we were doing. The band was performing well. I would say that qualifies for an ideal performance.
What attributes do you think that a new Doom Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
I don't pay much if any attention to what is going on with doom metal these days. All I can say is, if you're a new band in general, just realize there aren't any rules, you can play and sound like whatever you want. I think with modern doom metal it bores me because there are too many bands out there that are just fixated on copying things that have already been done. No one is going to do anything wholly original, but at least try, is my mentality.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Doom Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Digital formats are ideal in the sense that they are more or less the primary means of promoting your band now. They can get you out there for sure. Unfortunately, things like Spotify often don't compensate artists fairly.
Do you see any differences between the US Metal Market & the EU Metal Market (Labels, Bands, Fans etc)?
Europeans in general support music and especially live music at a higher rate; the difference is almost night and day.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Circle Pines, Minnesota (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Hah! Circle Pines is a podunk town in Minnesota, there was no "scene" to speak of - unless you count the former Hammerheart brewery and taproom which was just down the road. That is somewhere I used to live. I've since moved. But the band is more or less located in and around the Twin Cities area; Minneapolis/St. Paul has always had a strong Punk scene historically, with stuff like Husker Du, The Replacements, Suicide Commandos, etc. There is a pretty decent music fandom here I'd say.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
I am aware of it, but honestly, I personally don't listen to much black metal, unless you consider Hellhammer/Celtic Frost or Venom black metal. Might be a better question for Josh!
In the last 4 years, worldwide in the world, we have faced many dark, strange, and new situations in our everyday lives (covid, lockdown, etc.). Did all of this affect you positively or negatively
Well there were many negative effects, but we got a damn good album out of it. A lot of that album was written when Minneapolis was having a lot of riots as the result of the murder of George Floyd; I was present for these riots and saw a lot of things that changed my general outlook on life. They for sure pushed this project into a specific direction and made us sound the way we do now.
What are your future plans?
Play more shows and hopefully court a record label into signing us so we can put out a second album and get better distribution. Also, we want to become the greatest rock and roll band in history.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
heavy metal + grim Lyrics + facial hair = hoss rock
hoss rock is in! inferior rock is out!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
EXTERMINATION DAY CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/eday69
https://www.instagram.com/exterminationdayband/
https://exterminationday.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2st1iswEKoPdxE3hxiRN0G