Interview with TO THE DOGS
!!!CRUST METAL FROM THE USA!!!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about TO THE DOGS (Members, Starting Year etc).
To the Dogs was formed in March 2020 right before the world shut down. We have Ian Olsen on drums, Chris McMorrow on guitar/vocals and Nikki Jeremic on bass/vocals.
You have recently released your demo. What is the Feedback from your audience as well as from the Press?
It's all been really positive. We had no expectations about how the demo would be received, we just wanted to release new music for everyone to bang their heads to!
Label or DIY and why?
The internet makes it a possible place to thrive with or without a label, it all depends on the luck of the cards. A label does help attract more attention to a release absolutely, alongside with the support of most independent labels who happen to be driven by passion versus sales.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Whatever format delivers the goods then that is all that matters. Each has a special attribute that can be convenient in the moment of experiencing the music for the first time.
Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)?
We all have different influences, which works perfectly between us all, because our sound can be somewhat unexpected to a new listener. To name a few from each of us; Chris’s influences are Wolfbrigade, early Slayer, Ian’s influences are Witchtrap, Hellripper, Midnight, Obituary, Toxic Holocaust, and Nikki’s influences are Bloodbath, Anti Cimex, Razor, Bolt Thrower, and Motörhead.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance Band. Have you already experienced that?
The ideal is that the whole place is in a constant state of motion, from the crowd to us forming synchronized chaos. Since we started creating music in a pandemic we have not had the chance to experience performing To the Dogs material in front of a live audience. We are hoping that live shows will be a part of our future one day soon!
Which attributes, do you think, that a new Black/Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Authenticity and riffs.
Do you believe that Bandcamp and other Digital Platforms help the new Black/Thrash Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a Band to promote its work?
Bandcamp is more hands on for artists and helps introduce new music to music junkies who are always on the hunt to find something that hasn’t been discovered.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Milwaukee has a small, but strong scene that is full of other talented musicians. Everyone is bonded by attending underground shows that are often put together by Jason Ellis who does a lot for the Milwaukee scene here. He has been in a lot of bands and the active one he is in now, Cryptual is an awesome band that we look forward to playing with one day! Along with some other great Milwaukee bands such a Black Canvas, Morta Skuld, Scathed, Pigs Blood, Skategoat, Primitivs, and many more.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Rotting Christ, Thy Darkened Shade, Dead Congregation, Septicflesh are some of the bands some of us have seen live! Spectral Lore, Hail Spirit Noir are also phenomenal bands.
What are your future plans?
We plan on releasing a full length album and hopefully playing some live shows in 2021.
Thank you very much for your time & Keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you, and we appreciate the support, stay dialed in because we have some vinyl, tapes and new merch coming in the new year. Who knows maybe a date for the full length album!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
TO THE DOGS CONTACT:
https://tothedogs.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TotheDogsMKE
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3CW1RvD0NIWcXUN8HJlYeb?si=2ILjsJiIQHGUO_VUdWlTYg
https://www.instagram.com/tothedogs.mke/