Mitchell Rawlings - DEADSKIN 'Emerging Triumphant from A Suffering Home'
Recently we covered DEADSKIN's latest savage barrage EP - A HOME IN THE SUFFERING out now. We boasted their overpowering brutal side to no measure, applauding the prowess and control over the roaring vocals, and in general solidly written tunes.
As the world finally gets its ears around the Brisbane boys, Wall of Sound had a chance to talk with Mitchell Rawlings of DEADSKIN about A HOME IN THE SUFFERING, their plans now the wheels are officially turning on this next phase and what's still to come.
A HOME IN THE SUFFERING was a great next step from your debut EP, what differed in your writing process this time around?
We had a clearer vision set out for us. We knew exactly what style we wanted to explore and what type of energy we needed to bring to the table. We definitely feel that this is an evolution rather than a new direction. Which is exciting to us.
What was the most difficult song to write lyrically due to its topic?
All songs had the bulk of the writing done usually in the first sitting. We just grew over time and found it hard to approach rewrites just before we were already evolving from this style. 'IN DEATH' instrumentally was a hard one to decide when it was finally finished. But lyrically, 'A LETTER OF FAREWELL' was by far the hardest to write, due to how personal that one became.
Did your new guitarist Patrick Black get to jam on this record or do we have to wait to see what he unleashes?
Unfortunately by the time he had joined the EP was already tracked. But, already. He has written some amazing new demos for whatever we are doing next. Showing another evolution to the sound of DEADSKIN. We are already stoked to have him be a part of our process.
You guys incorporate a few Metalcore subgenres into the mix, who was most influential to DEADSKIN during this period?
I think a lot of it had to do with a lot of music outside of metal to be honest. Personally I have been listening to Holding Absence & Point North. Who are both so catchy, yet still have a slightly heavier sound than the usual sound of their genre. But, The Plot In You & Sworn In are always staple bands for me who I never tire of.
Which of AHITS’s 7 brutal commandments are you most keen to play live?
Definitely 'IN DEATH' & 'NOT LIKE U'. 'RATS' has already proven to be a strong song live, so we are excited to see how these two translate.
Aside from obviously Body Prison, what piqued your interest in throwing Into The Vein & BITTER KIND on your release show?
We have played a bunch of shows with Into The Vein. They have always been so kind to us and have always been in contact. Bitter Kind are also friends of ours. So both of them are no-brainers for us.
For our first headline show, we wanna fun more than anything. It's stressful enough already. We just wanted to share it with friends who bring it live
What are three main band goals you're hoping to achieve following the release of the EP?
Touring, touring, touring.
We just want to stay as busy as possible, we'd love to do an official tour across Australia. Hopefully we start opening up more doors to even further opportunities. But for now, an Australian tour is our main goal.
Do we have any new merch coming with the EP we don't know how about? Possibly at the release show?
We just dropped a whole new merch collection for our release. Which will be sold at our upcoming release show.
Surely with your Sophomore EP fresh off the press, you're keen to do more shows and definitely tours, anything in the works you can share with us?
At the moment, there is nothing we can share. We have our eyes set on this Headline show. That being said, we are definitely going to keep busy.
Final thoughts for fans?
Finally, we want to thank everyone for the amazing reception to the singles we have dropped and for all of the support at our recent shows. We have never been more excited to release a body of work before.
So from the bottom of our heart's, thank you. We hope you enjoy.
Thanks gents!
Interview by Ed Atlas @YourFavouriteMerchGuy
DEADSKIN is Mitchell Rawlings (Vocals), James Gibson (bass), Ben Baragwanath (drums) and Patrick Black (guitar)
Spin A HOME IN THE SUFFERING here
DEADSKIN – A HOME IN THE SUFFERING EP tracklisting
1. ISHIMURA
2. ISOLATED
3. IN DEATH
4. NOT LIKE U
5. LIFE’S A BITCH
6. RATS IN THE WALLS (feat. Daniel Macdonald of Body Prison)
7. A LETTER OF FAREWELL
