Stygian Crown will be released June 26 on CD and vinyl via Cruz Del Sur Music. The digital version will be released on June 19.
Interview conducted on June 05, 2020
By Dan Locke
Sheer death metal heaviness and doom collide on this earth-moving debut! On their self-titled debut album Stygian Crown introduces the sound of “Candlethrower” to the world: A devastating combination of doom and death metal topped off by classically-trained vocals!
Band Members
R. Davis – Drums
M. Pinion – Vocals & Keyboards
J. Thomas – Bass
N. Miranda – Lead Guitar
A. Hicks – Lead Guitar
What is your upbringing?
Rhett – If this question is pertaining to music. I am the only person in my known family that is a musician. My older sister and her boyfriend David were the most influential people to me musically. David especially. He introduced me to hard rock and heavy metal at a young age.
How did you discover music?
Rhett – The first album I ever owned as a kid was ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS “CHIPMUNK PUNK”. Which were early 80s modern pop songs sung by the Chipmunks. I listened to the radio and eventually started buying my own records. The first real band I purchased was DURAN DURAN – S/T. I also bought all the WEIRD AL YANKOVICH records also. Heavy Metal came around soon after.
How did you start to write music?
Rhett – I don’t. I play drums. Nelson and Melissa handle the writing, I help arrange the music.
What was your first performance at like?
Rhett – The first live performance I ever did was at a friend’s house party. We wrote a bunch of shitty songs like S.O.D. and annoyed everyone to leave or go outside. I was 14.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Rhett – The first original song I can think of was when I was 11? My best friend and I played in my bedroom, I used pillows and boxes and he had this shitty electric guitar his Dad bought him from Sears. The song was called SNAKEBITE. It sounded like Judas Priest if all of them were 11 years old in their bedroom. It wasn’t recorded. You’re welcome.
How the band did get its name?
Rhett – If you are referring to STYGIAN CROWN? It’s a tribute to two old bands of mine MORGION & KEEN OF THE CROW. It’s also in reference to the character THULSA DOOM.
Why did it take 3 years to get the band together?
Rhett – It didn’t, it took 5 years. Finding the right people is not an easy task.
How did you find Melissa?
Rhett – She is a close friend of a mutual close friend. I first met her at a HEAVEN & HELL record signing, if memory serves?
The album comes out June 19 digital and June 26 on vinyl. Now that Bandcamp, has stopped their fees you can make more money. How much of a plus is it not being change fees from Bandcamp?
Rhett – Bandcamp stopped their fees for ONE DAY. It’s one day a month. It’s fine they waived their fees for one day. But it would be better if they did more than just one day a month.
What is your favorite track on the album?
Rhett – TWO COINS FOR THE FERRYMAN
How do you stay healthy while touring?
Rhett – I don’t.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Rhett – Its helpful to allow the listener an opportunity to sample the music before purchase.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Rhett – Vinyl
Any plans to tour?
Rhett – Not at the moment. A pandemic and civil unrest take priority.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
Rhett – My feelings don’t matter. I think more people should take the time to shut up and listen. There are far too many people in pain and need their voices heard.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
Rhett – Beastie Boys – Egg Man. I ate eggs for breakfast.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Rhett – Not a question I can answer, I really don’t have the knowledge or power to give an answer that’s not just another dumb opinion.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Rhett – Working. Hanging out with my lady and my dogs. Playing PS4. Watching movies. Being the best.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Rhett – I’ve been apart a group of 6 people that play Dungeons & Dragons every Friday Nite online. I haven’t played since I was a teenager, so that’s been fun.
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. So, you did a thing called the Quarantine Shred project. Who did you get involved with this project? As I understand it was dedicated to the memory of Adrian Mejia. A photographer and videographer, who chronicled the LA metal scene. It would have been nice to have a video instead of just audio.
Rhett – A close friend of ours and former bandmate in GRAVEHILL put it together, Christian La Rocca. There were a lot of people involved so it might have been difficult to get a Video of each person maybe? I think he was more concerned about paying tribute to our friend over 8 solid minutes of guitarists making guitar face for the internet?
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Rhett – No.
First, it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally, Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until the fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
Rhett – Until they have a cure it’s a guessing game. If our Government put as much effort in this Pandemic instead of dumping money into keeping the people divided and the rich richer. Who knows?
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of the music fest for the next couple of years?
Rhett – It very well could.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Rhett – That’d be cool if everyone had Buck Roger’s living room. Don’t think it’s really a sensible option today though?
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Rhett – 53.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
Rhett – “Never fry bacon naked.”
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