Interview with SIEGE
!!!SAVAGE HEAVY / SPEED METAL FROM THE USA!!!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about SIEGE (Members, Starting Year etc).
Miguel (Guitar): Siege actually came about after the end of another band called Destroyer. I like to think we played a bit of a rougher version of the Speed / Heavy sound that we are currently pursuing as Siege.
Bryan (Drums): I joined the band in mid 2019 if I'm not mistaken. We decided on the band name like 6 months later. We wanted to do a reset and start fresh.
Miguel (Guitar): Iggy (Bass) had joined sooner than Bryan and had played a few shows with Santana and I as a part of Destroyer.
In 2020 you released your single “Under Enemy Fire”. What was the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
Santana (Guitar/Vox): I’ve heard some good feedback. At the time, it was our first D.I.Y recording so the sound quality was very “raw” in a sense.
Bryan (Drums): Honestly, I don't recall much feedback other than from close friends and the few that followed us on Instagram. Overall, however, I got decent feedback from friends. Mixed comments here and there.
Miguel (Guitar): We actually recorded 4 other songs along with it that we essentially released as our first demo online, but we released ''Under Enemy Fire'' first because we thought it was the best of the recorded songs when it came to recording quality. No feedback other than from the few times we’ve played it live and it has been good.
Label or DIY and why?
Miguel (Guitar): I think the DIY route is the best way of going about it to start. That said, distributing our music to a new and larger audience is difficult at times. Knowing when and where to release our music so that it has the best reach and impact is something a label could probably help with but I like to think that if our music is good enough then it will spread on its own.
Bryan (Drums): Yeah, I prefer DIY.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why?
Bryan (Drums): Vinyl because I collect my own, but everything else is fine too.
Miguel (Guitar): Out of the physical formats, I like CDs the most. Good graphics on the Cover and on the CD itself makes for a cool way of sharing music. I like vinyls for the same reasons but digital is the way to most easily share our music.
Santana (Guitar/Vox): As many formats as possible is the best way to go. Digital is in fact the most versatile but to have physical memorabilia for the fans or yourself is just awesome.
Your music style is Heavy Metal. Which are your main influences?
Bryan (Drums): I have a lot of influences, ranging from grindcore to speed metal. The Datura, Jurassic Jade, Savage Grace, ADX, and Cradle of Filth. These are the bands I always come back to.. Oh, and a lot of old school Visual Kai/Heavy Metal from Japan.
Santana (Guitar/Vox): When it comes to singing, Omen and Salem's Wych are the bands that influence me the most. I enjoy their Heavy Metal style of singing. It's not all about singing high [pitched] as hell.
Miguel (Guitar): A lot of the bands that fall into the New Wave of British Heavy Metal would fall into my list. Virtue (UK) and the heavy metal band Omen (US). My favorite “obscure” band that’s influenced my style is another band called Leader (Nld). Iron Maiden and Yngwie Malmsteen.
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 of your band?
Bryan (Drums): A lot of time. I'm talking hours and hours. I've sacrificed a lot of time away from my own family, and my own personal alone time. I don't mind though, because this is something I've always wanted to do and I've finally found some really solid mates to do this with. We are all very dedicated, and that's what I love about these guys. Of course though, everything with balance. That is what I stride for when juggling all these aspects of life.
Santana (Guitar/Vox): I think time is what is really demanding when it comes to succeeding with a band. You’ve got to keep yourself and others motivated by showing up and creating new material. If you’re missing practice then you’re bound to forget established and rehearsed songs. If members aren’t showing up or putting in an effort then you lose overall morale.
Miguel (Guitar): Just like with anything else, you’ve got to be prepared to spend some time in order to progress with a goal. Other than some cash from my wallet for higher quality recording gear, I haven't sacrificed anything. Even then, I can't say I see that as a sacrifice. I see it as more of a necessity to increase our reach.
Describe your ideal live show. Have you already experienced that?
Santana (Guitar/Vox): To me, an ideal live show is simple. None of the gear messes up, the sound guy does a good job and everyone is heard clearly with minimal and unrecognizable mistakes during our set if there are any. Most important would be seeing my band mates and the audience enjoying themselves along with plenty of Chelas (beer).
Bryan (Drums): Having a lot of fans there to see us, playing our absolute best and having a sick ass lineup of bands to play alongside.
Which attributes, do you think, that a new heavy metal band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Miguel (Guitar): Because heavy metal has been around for a while now, it's easy to think that every guitar riff and every drum beat has been played. I think it's all about how a band puts everything together that makes them unique. I mean Stage Performance, Online presence, Creativity and some Natural Talent/Skill doesn't hurt.
Bryan (Drums): A lot of dedication.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Heavy Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Bryan (Drums): In this day and age, yes. Digital Platforms help. We have to use what we got.
Miguel (Guitar): Digital platforms are most likely the best way to promote a band's work.
Santana (Guitar/Vox): Yeah, definitely. Networking has been made easier too because of digital platforms and media.
Tell us a few things about the new underground metal scene in Los Angeles, California.
Bryan (Drums): I don't so much think of it as new. I've been in this scene since I was 15. I'm 30 now, so 15 years. Bands have come and gone.
Santana (Guitar/Vox): Over here in LA, there’s not too many Heavy Metal Bands in the underground local scene.
Miguel (Guitar): There are heavy metal bands but there aren't too many bands pursuing that traditional heavy metal sound but there are a handful.
Santana (Guitar/Vox): Here in Los Angeles there's a lot more death metal and other sub-genres of the more darker stuff.
Miguel (Guitar): Throughout the years, it's been common to go to a backyard metal show or see a flier for a show where the lineup was entirely death / black metal with maybe one heavy metal band playing that night. The crowd would usually disappear after the heavy metal band played.
Bryan (Drums): The LA Scene itself has always seemed kind of competitive, even now. It's not necessarily a bad thing. It keeps the more serious bands pushing for more which is a good thing. As for clubs, I'm not sure. I've been hanging around the same group of friends that I've known for the last 20 years, haha.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Santana (Guitar/Vox): Don't know nothing about it.
Bryan (Drums): No I don't.
Miguel (Guitar): Nope.
What are your future plans?
Miguel (Guitar): We’re definitely going to be releasing more music in 2022 so keep an eye out for that. We’re also planning on a physical CD box set once we have enough well recorded tracks.
Santana (Guitar/Vox): We’re going to continue with what we are doing. Recording, making material and just getting out there and playing gigs.
Bryan (Drums): We have some projects being cooked up right now, I cant really say much, but I've been working on for a year alongside my band mates, and other people in the community. Well make an announcement once we are ready From all of us: Thank you to everyone that read through our interview and we’d also like to thank Filthy Dogs Of Metal for the opportunity. Follow us on Instagram by searching @Siege_LA as well as on youtube and bandcamp at siegela.bandcamp.com
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
